Diabetes Wellness Centers

What you need to know about and diabetes Breastfeeding is one of the most important things you can do for your health and for the health of your baby. Like other pregnant women, women with diabetes are encouraged to breastfeed their babies.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Benefits for women with gestational diabetes World Health Organization advise all mothers (high blood sugar during ): to breastfeed their infants for one to two –– Promotes weight loss years. The health benefits that come from –– Helps prevent the development of type 2 breastfeeding your baby are important for diabetes later in life by decreasing insulin both of you. resistance. In other words, breastfeeding helps your body make better use of the Benefits for your baby: insulin you make naturally. –– is the best nutrition for your baby Benefits for women with pre-existing –– Supports infant growth and development diabetes: –– Reduces risk of childhood diabetes –– Promotes weight loss –– Reduces risk of childhood obesity –– May reduce the amount of medication you need to control your glucose levels

Plus breastfeeding is convenient and cost effective for everyone!

Is there a special diet I should follow –– Have your meals and snacks on time and while breastfeeding? don’t skip meals Breastfeeding your baby does not require you –– Check your blood sugars frequently, to make any major changes to your normal especially before you breastfeed diet. But you will be burning more calories, so –– Know the symptoms of low blood sugar women who are breastfeeding need to take in –– Always have a fast acting glucose (such as an additional 500 calories a day. juice) close by when you are breastfeeding in case your sugar goes low Healthy eating guidelines for everyone involve –– Talk to your healthcare provider about eating foods from each food group, including: adjusting your medication or insulin if you start experiencing low blood sugar levels –– A variety of fruits and vegetables –– Lean meats and dairy –– Whole grains What else should I be aware of? –– Staying well hydrated by drinking eight to –– Sometimes women with diabetes do not ten glasses of non-caffeinated, non-sugar get their milk supply right away. It may take beverages daily a few days longer than normal. Don't be discouraged - keep nursing your baby, Be sure to include foods that have Omega 3 and drink lots of liquids. Your milk supply fatty acids such as fish, nuts and eggs. If you will come in. do not eat foods with Omega 3, you can take –– Having good sugar control while a DHA pill (fish oil) daily in order to get the breastfeeding is important and you must amount you need. Limit fish intake to 12 ounces always remember to take care of yourself a week. When you do eat fish, choose those by keeping track of your blood sugar levels. that are low in mercury, as too much mercury If your sugars are high, you can be at higher in your body can be transmitted through risk for infections and delayed healing. Talk the breast milk and interfere with proper to your healthcare provider to discuss the development of your baby’s nervous system. best glucose levels for you. Examples of fish that are low in mercury and –– It’s important to get plenty of rest, ask for safe to eat are salmon, tilapia and sole. help, and take time for yourself whenever possible. Breastfeeding can sometimes feel Which diabetes medications can be taken hard to manage, so it’s very important to while breastfeeding? get help and support from your significant Insulin is safe to use while you are other, family and friends. breastfeeding your baby. If you are taking oral medications for diabetes, speak with What are some things I can do while pregnant your doctor or your baby’s pediatrician before to help me get ready to breastfeed my baby? beginning to breastfeed. Ideally, you should Women who are most successful at speak to both of them about your medications breastfeeding are those who received before you deliver. education while they were pregnant. Taking a breastfeeding class toward the end of your Are there any special precautions I should take pregnancy is very helpful - you will learn more while breastfeeding? about breastfeeding and you can ask questions Yes. Since breastfeeding decreases insulin so you are better prepared before your baby is resistance, women who are taking insulin are born. You can also do your own reading about at a higher risk of having low blood sugar and the benefits of breastfeeding. low blood sugar reactions. To avoid these kinds of problems, you should: What are some things I can do after I deliver What organizations are available for my baby to help get the support I need breastfeeding information? to breastfeed? –– Northwell.edu/support-and-resources/ –– After your baby is born, take another find-an-event breastfeeding class while you are still in –– International Lactation Consultant the hospital. Most hospitals offer daily Association (ILCA) at ILCA.org breastfeeding classes on the mother and –– (LLL) at llli.org baby units. –– U.S. Department of Health and Human –– Ask to see one of the lactation consultants Services (HHS), Office on Women’s Health at on staff at the hospital. They are available to Womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding or provide help to you and your baby. (800) 994-9662 (English and Spanish –– Contact one of the breastfeeding support speaking counselors: Monday - Friday groups in your area. Other women who 9am - 6pm) breastfeed can offer a great deal of comfort and often have excellent suggestions. About Northwell Health

Northwell Health (formerly North Shore-LIJ Health System) is New York State’s largest healthcare provider and private employer. With 21 hospitals and nearly 450 outpatient practices, we serve more than 1.8 million people annually in the metro New York area and beyond. Our 61,000 employees work to change health care for the better. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine and the School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. And we offer health insurance through CareConnect. For information on our services in more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu.

References: –– American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care for patients with diabetes mellitus (position statement). Diabetes Care. 2016;39 (suppl 1). –– Summary and Recommendations of the Fifth International Workshop- –– Conference on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Care. July 2007, vol. 30. Supplement 2 S251-S260

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