Ruth Solomon <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I am working with a mother that has severe measurable blood sugar drops
> with almost every letdown. Multiple let downs means multiple drops.  
>  She is asymptotic at all other times. It has become physically
> uncomfortable. She has talked with her physician, endocrinologist and is
> self aware of her diet. No problems during pregnancy.

How have these blood sugar drops been established? It would be quite
complicated, requiring minute-to-minute (perhaps even tighter) blood
glucose monitoring. How far does the blood sugar drop? You say she has
an endocrinologist - is she diabetic? If not, what's her diagnosis? How
long postpartum is she? Is there anything else going on?

Without more information, I can't help wondering if what you have here
is a mother who is confusing hypoglycemic symptoms  with the normal
floaty-sedated feeling of oxytocin surge at MER. They can feel very
similar. 

We do know that injection of large amounts of oxytocin into rats or men
stimulates both insulin and glucagon release, and can drop blood sugar.
How clinically significant this is in nondiabetic breastfeeding women is
questionable. If the blood sugar drops have been objectively established
and she's at risk of hypoglycaemic coma (eg brittle diabetic) she could
manage this in the usual way with intake & insulin adjustment, just as
with exercise or any other activity that drops blood glucose - surely
her endocrinologist could advise, and would know that many diabetic
women need less insulin while nursing. It would be important for her to
have juice and/or an appropriate snack with her while nursing.

Lara Hopkins

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