It is known that children born to women whose pregnancies are complicated by diabetes have a higher risk of developing obesity and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) during their childhoods. It is also known that - in the general population - breast-feeding provides some protection against obesity and diabetes. Researchers in Germany sought to investigate the impact of breast-feeding on children of diabetic mothers.

They studied the children of 83 women with type 1 diabetes and 29 women who developed gestational diabetes. For the first seven days of life, the infants were either breastfed by their mothers or received breast milk donated by women who did not have diabetes.

More of the children who were breastfed were overweight at the age of two. This finding led to the conclusion that early ingestion of breast milk from diabetic mothers may increase the risk of becoming overweight and consequently of developing IGT during childhood.

Related information: Pregnancy and Diabetes | Gestational Diabetes

Source:  Plagemann A, Harder T, et al. Long-term impact of neonatal breast-feeding on body weight and glucose tolerance in children of diabetic mothers. Diab Care Jan. 1, 2002;25:16-22. (Abs.)