My name is Megan Jensen and I am a Junior nursing student at the University of North Dakota. I chose to join this listserv because I am interested in working on an OB/Pediatrics floor where breastfeeding issues will arise. The topic that I am interested in is diabetes and breastfeeding; and I have found some information regarding this topic that I would like to share. There have been recent debates about mothers who breastfeed vs. mothers who formula feed and/or introduce cow's milk too soon and how this can either contribute to or decrease the chance of developing Type I diabetes. I would like to discuss both ends of the spectrum of this issue. The study conducted by McKinney, Parslow, Gurney, Law, Bodansky & Williams states that breastfeeding within the first 4 months of life helps to prevent an antibody response to bovine beta-casein, which is a cow's milk protein responsible for the cellular immune responses that occur in Type 1 diabetes mellitus (McKinney, Parslow, Gurney, Law, Bodansky & Williams, 1999). The same study states that decreased body weight, decreased obesity rate, and a decreased rate for development of diabetes have been associated in infants that were solely breastfed. There has been a link shown between an increasing incidence of Type 1 diabetes mellitus and decreasing incidence of mothers who breastfeed their infants. In summary, the argument is that longer, exclusive breastfeeding has been linked as an independent factor that protects against the development of Type 1 diabetes in childhood (McKinney et al, 1999). On the other side of the debate, Plagemann, Harder, Franke, & Kohlhoff (2002), have argued that breast milk from diabetic women contains an increased glucose concentration, and an increased insulin concentration which can cross over the intestinal mucous blood barrier during neonatal life. This consumption of insulin laden milk absorbed by the baby has been linked to accelerated weight gain and therefore the increase in glucose exposure may mean an increased risk of developing obesity and an insulin resistance later in life. Jackson (2004), states that breastfeeding is a natural and available source protecting against Type 1 diabetes; claiming its protection should be taken more seriously and more education should be available. McKinney et al., (1999) states that children with Type 1 diabetes have had increased levels of cow's milk antibodies within the first year of life and the early activation of the immune system was directed related to early exposure to cow's milk proteins. In conclusion, because of the numerous advantages of breastfeeding in general, most health care providers are encouraging there patients to breastfeed their newborns. My questions are as follows: What is the advice given to your patients regarding diabetes and breastfeeding? And, what are the advantages and disadvantages that you have come across in the literature regarding diabetic mothers who breastfeed? Thank you for any responses to my questions. Megan Jensen, Student Nurse University of North Dakota References: Jackson, Wendy. (2004) Breastfeeding and Type 1 diabetes mellitus. British Journal of Midwifery. 12 (3), 158-165. Plagemann, A., Harder T., Franke, K., & Kohlhoff, R. (2002). Long-term impact of Neonatal breastfeeding on body weight and glucose tolerance in children of Diabetic mothers. Diabetes Care, 25 (1), 16-22. McKinney, P., Roger, P., Gurney, K., Law, G., Bodansky, H., & Williams, R. (1999).Perinatal and neonatal determinants of childhood type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Care, 22 (6), 928-932. *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html