Insulin requirements during lactation in women with diabetes mellitus type 1 in comparison with pre-pregnancy levels

The metabolic profile variability of women with diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1) during breastfeeding, leads to a reassessment in managing glycemia, mainly to prevent hypoglycemia. In this retrospective study we assessed insulin needs, vis-à-vis breastfeeding in DM1. A 10.7% reduction of daily insulin dosage, compared to pre-pregnancy insulin needs, was noted in women who breastfed exclusively versus 10.8% in those who supplemented breastfeeding (p = NS). Women who experienced hypoglycemic episodes, tended (but not significantly) to be younger ( p = 0.10), with longer duration of DM1 and more weight gain in pregnancy. Exclusive breastfeeding was associated with younger age ( p = 0.04), regardless of hypoglycemia ( p = 0.25)

Breast feeding · Breastfeeding · Diabetes mellitus · Hypoglycemia · Insulin · Lactation · Obstetrics · Postpartum period · Pregnancy · Retrospective cohort study · Type 1 diabetes · Bariatric Surgery and Outcomes · Breastfeeding Practices and Influences · Gestational Diabetes Research and Management · Medicine · Endocrinology · Internal Medicine · Pediatrics