Diabetes Risks & the Childbearing Year

Birth & Parenting News

Each Wednesday, my blog will highlight the latest news items, research results, consumer alerts, and legislative action alerts of interest to expectant and new parents and the professionals who work in the field of maternal-infant health. Feel free to email items of interest to my attention, patty@center4cby.com.

Another reason to breastfeed: Breastfeeding linked to lower diabetes risk for moms.
A new Australian study shows a link between formula feeding and higher diabetes rates among mothers. Published in the journal Diabetes Care, the study included 53,726 women over age 45. Among those who had never had children, the rate of type 2 diabetes was roughly 5%. Similarly, for women who had children and breastfed each child for more than three months, the rate of diabetes was approximately 5%. For women who had children but had never breastfed, the rate of type 2 diabetes was nearly double, 9.5%. Among those who had begun using formula before three months, just under 7% said they had diabetes. Read more.

Diabetes Risk after Gestational Diabetes
Seven percent of all pregnancies (about 200,000 a year) are affected by gestational diabetes. The National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) and the Office of Research on Women’s Health have launched a campaign to remind women who have a history of gestational diabetes about their increased risk for getting diabetes, as well as their child’s increased risk for obesity and diabetes. Women who have had gestational diabetes should be tested for diabetes 6 to 12 weeks after their baby is born, and at least every 3 years after that. The NDEP website has more information on how to prevent or delay diabetes for women and children. Read more.

Posted by Patty on July 21, 2010 • Filed under Birth & Parenting News (Wednesdays)
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