Stillen zur mütterlichen Gesundheitsförderung?

Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes postpartum. Every second woman with GDM is developing type 2 diabetes within the next 10 years after delivery, although her elevated blood glucose levels most often resolve directly after pregnancy. Strategies to prevent postpartum type 2 diabetes are important to reduce the epidemic of diabetes and its societal impact. Breastfeeding may delay the long-term development of type 2 diabetes among women with GDM. Recently, we could show that in women who had GDM breastfeeding for more than 3 months is associated with a 40 % long-term reduction of the risk of developing postpartum diabetes. The aim of our research group is now to investigate the mechanisms which are causal for the protective effects of breastfeeding on type 2 diabetes development.