Diabetes and Breastfeeding
Although lactating can help you control your blood sugar as you transition from pregnancy to postpartum you’ll need to pay close attention to your diet. While you are breastfeeding keep water nearby and snacks within reach to help prevent becoming hypoglycemic while nursing. Although your normal insulin injections are generally safe to use while breastfeeding, oral hypoglycemic medication are not safe to use while you breastfeed so be sure to talk to your doctor about other options you may have.
Diabetes and breastfeeding may present you with some special challenges as diabetic mothers tend to get more yeast infections and suffer more frequently from mastitis than non-diabetic mothers. Paying increased attention to your your breasts will help prevent getting clogged milk ducts.
On top of all the other benefits of breastfeeding, several studies have indicated that breastfeeding your child helps lower their risk of getting Type I diabetes later in their life.
