• COVID-19
  • Allergies and Infant Formula
  • Pharmacology
  • Telemedicine
  • Drug Pipeline News
  • Influenza
  • Allergy, Immunology, and ENT
  • Autism
  • Cardiology
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Endocrinology
  • Adolescent Medicine
  • Gastroenterology
  • Infectious disease
  • Nutrition
  • Neurology
  • Obstetrics-Gynecology & Women's Health
  • Developmental/Behavioral Disorders
  • Practice Improvement
  • Gynecology
  • Respiratory
  • Dermatology
  • Diabetes
  • Mental Health
  • Oncology
  • Psychiatry
  • Animal Allergies
  • Alcohol Abuse
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Sexual Health
  • Pain

Breastfeeding brings protection for mothers from type 2 diabetes

Article

Seems there's yet another reason to breastfeed. The longer women breastfeed, the less likely they are to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus, according to an analysis of over 150,000 women participating in the Nurses' Health Study and the Nurses' Health Study II.1

Researchers found that each year of breastfeeding reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 15%. The proposed mechanism is improved glucose homeostasis.

Although the correlation persisted in the study even after controlling for such diabetes risk factors as body mass index, amount of exercise, diet, and smoking, it did weaken with age. It also did not build until after six months of lactation, so women who breastfeed for shorter periods may not benefit.

1. Stuebe AM, Rich-Edwards JW, Willett WC, et al. Duration of lactation and incidence of type 2 diabetes. JAMA 2005;294:2601-2610.

Related Videos
Donna Hallas, PhD, CPNP, PPCNP-BC, PMHS, FAANP, FAAN
Scott Ceresnak, MD
Scott Ceresnak, MD
Importance of maternal influenza vaccination recommendations
Reducing HIV reservoirs in neonates with very early antiretroviral therapy | Deborah Persaud, MD
Samantha Olson, MPH
Deborah Persaud, MD
Ari Brown, MD, FAAP | Pediatrician and CEO of 411 Pediatrics; author, baby411 book series; chief medical advisor, Kabrita USA.
© 2024 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.