Latest study discovers that breastfeeding women are at low risk to have type 2 diabetes as compared to those who do not breastfeed their babies.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance or insulin deficiency that results in relatively high blood glucose level. This is common with obese people.
A study of 2,200 women aged 40-78 was used by researchers from University of Pittsburg. Results reveal that 27% percent of women who did not breast-fed developed type2 diabetes.
Giving birth is said to be associated increase risk of developing type2 diabetes. Aside from giving birth several factors were taken into consideration by the study such as age, race, levels of activity, lifestyle, and body mass index.
Section of the mothers in the study developed type 2 diabetes.
According to Dr. Eleanor Bimla Schwarz, of University of Pittsburgh, people are not aware how breast-feeding may lower risk of diabetes. According to experts, diet and exercise may have kept people away from developing diabetes later in life, but an easier access would be breastfeeding.
Breast-feeding lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes by reducing maternal belly fat.
Bimla also claims that their study provides an apparent reason for mothers to breast-feed.
Researchers stated that even a month of breastfeeding might render the mother at low risk to develop the metabolic disease diabetes later in life. They also said that breastfeeding is also important for babies as it carries a qualified amount of fat, sugar, water and protein. Breastfeeding gives the baby 500 calories a day thus it will also help the mother lose weight.
The study appears in the September issue of American Journal of medicine. The U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the National Institute of Child Health and Development also funded this research.
