Women who during pregnancy suffered from diabetes, after delivery, breast milk may be missed.

This is most likely due to a violation of the sensitivity of breast cells to insulin.

Such conclusions of scientists were published in the journal Breastfeeding Medicine.

The use of maternal milk for children's health can not be overemphasized, therefore, WHO and national health authorities promote breastfeeding in every possible way. But, unfortunately, many women stop feeding earlier than the due time because of lack of milk.

In this regard, especially worrisome are young mothers with diabetes: studies have shown that they have a lactation time on average less than that of healthy women. There are other difficulties in this category.

Among other things, lactation reduces the need for insulin by about 25%, because the milk contains lactose. Feeding leads to a drop in blood sugar, so breastfeeding mothers with diabetes should remember the risk of hypoglycemia.

Insulin and lactemia.

Dr. Sarah Riddle, pediatrician from the Center for Breastfeeding of the MC "Children's Hospital of Cincinnati", together with her colleagues studied the medical history of 641 patients who visited her center from June 2011 to May 2013. All women gave birth no more than 90 days prior to the first visit and all wished to continue lactation.

In an interview with Medical News Today, Dr. Riddle explained that they did not distinguish between types of diabetes - scientists were interested in any glucose metabolism disturbances during this period. She notes that many women have elevated levels of sugar during pregnancy, but they do not even know it.

The analysis showed that in women who had diabetes during pregnancy, the likelihood of problems with lactation is higher. Almost 15% of women with diabetes could not produce enough milk, and more than 6% of them had other problems not related to milk production (for example, lactostasis).

When asked about the possible reasons for this phenomenon, Dr.

Riddle replied that the root of all problems is the change in the sensitivity of cells to insulin. Recall that in 2013, the role of insulin in the secretory cells of the breast. But to give the final answer, the researcher is not ready yet.

"We very much hope that a better understanding of physiology will open up new ways for us to prevent and treat lactation disorders. Already today, we are ready to organize a small clinical trial to test the effect of metformin (a medicine for diabetes) on milk production, "says Riddle..

medbe. en.