Lowers Risk of Diabetes
Researchers have long understood that among many health benefits breastfeeding gives is a reduced risk of not only type 1 but, more specifically, type 2 diabetes.
What’s more, it benefits the body by increasing insulin levels and improving glucose metabolism. Insulin plays a vital role in lactation, including its essential functions in secretory activation, differentiation, and mature milk production. Additionally, insulin keeps the blood sugar level in a normal range as much as possible. After a meal, carbohydrates break down into glucose, a monosaccharide sugar that is the body’s primary source of physiological energy. Glucose will then enter the bloodstream. This process produces insulin as the pancreas responds, which permits glucose to enter the body’s cells to provide energy.
Beta cells in the pancreas may also increase and boost insulin production in women during the postpartum period. It is because beta cells are responsible for producing enough insulin to control high blood sugar levels.
Keeping blood sugar in check will make lactating mothers stay healthy. Occasionally, some mothers may find an approximate drop in blood sugar levels during their regular breastfeeding sessions. It is due to the body’s utilization of glucose in the bloodstream necessary for breast milk production.
