Preventing the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes by Breastfeeding

Benefits of Breastfeeding

The benefits of breastfeeding are not only felt by the baby but are also beneficial for the mother. There are several benefits of breastfeeding that you may not know about, including:

• reduce the risk of developing breast cancer,
• reduce the risk of osteoporosis,
• reduce the risk of ovarian cancer,
• help the process of returning to mother's weight before pregnancy,

A recent study revealed the fact that breastfeeding is also a preventative measure against the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus or often also called Non-Insuline Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) is diabetes caused by the body's resistance to the effects of insulin produced by pancreatic beta cells. This situation will cause blood sugar levels to rise uncontrollably.

Obesity and family medical history of diabetes is thought to be risk factors for this disease.

Control of Blood Sugar Levels

Mom and her baby, photo via unsplash.com/kevin liang

Changes in metabolism in breastfeeding moms help stabilize blood sugar levels and increase the body's sensitivity to the hormone insulin. Moms who breastfeed their babies continuously for at least one year are better than breastfeeding for less than one year. For each additional year of breastfeeding, there is an additional 15 percent reduction in risk. Lowering blood sugar levels is also easier in breastfeeding women than non-breastfeeding women.

Moms who breastfeed their babies with exclusive breastfeeding have a tendency to choose a healthier lifestyle compared to those who do not breastfeed their babies. They are generally more selective in choosing healthy and nutritious foods so that the milk content is given to infants also has high nutrients. This kind of lifestyle will obviously encourage the body's metabolism to reduce the risk of developing diabetes.

After knowing how many benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby, this information is expected to be more motivating for mothers who are pregnant in order to strengthen their intention to give exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and continue to give it until the baby is 2 years old.

Share this post