Insulin requirements during lactation in women with diabetes mellitus type 1 in comparison with pre-pregnancy levels: A 10-year retrospective study

Abstract

The metabolic profile variability of women with diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1) during breastfeeding, leads to a reassessment in managing glycemia, mainly to prevent hypoglycemia. In this retrospective study we assessed insulin needs, vis-à-vis breastfeeding in DM1. A 10.7% reduction of daily insulin dosage, compared to pre-pregnancy insulin needs, was noted in women who breastfed exclusively versus 10.8% in those who supplemented breastfeeding (p = NS). Women who experienced hypoglycemic episodes, tended (but not significantly) to be younger (p = 0.10), with longer duration of DM1 and more weight gain in pregnancy. Exclusive breastfeeding was associated with younger age (p = 0.04), regardless of hypoglycemia (p = 0.25).

Acknowledgement

A preliminary version of this work was presented in abstract form at 21st European Congress of Endocrinology [Endocrine Abstracts (2019);56 GP221/DOI: 10.153/endoabs.63.GP221].

Conflict of interest

No conflict of interest.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.