Breastfeeding is associated with a delayed decrease in postprandial maternal glucose concentration.

Background: Breastfeeding has long-term benefits in reducing the risk of diabetes; however, information about the acute influence on maternal glucose profile is scarce. Thus, the aim of the study was to assess maternal glucose fluctuations associated with breastfeeding episodes in women with normal glucose status.

Methods: We performed an observational study of glucose fluctuations with breastfeeding episodes in 26 women with normal glucose status in fasting and postprandial state. Continuous glucose monitoring was performed using CGMS MiniMed Gold/iPro2 (Medtronic, Dublin, Ireland) three months after delivery under real-life conditions. We compared fasting and postprandial periods of 150 minutes affected or not by a breastfeeding episode.

Results: Mean glucose concentration of postprandial periods affected by breastfeeding was lower than not affected (-6.31 mg/dL [95% CI: -11.17, -1.62] P<0.01). Glucose concentration was significantly lower between 50 and 105 minutes after meal initiation (maximum difference -9.19 mg/dL [95% CI: -16.03, -2.16] at 91-95 min). Mean glucose concentrations of fasting periods affected by breastfeeding were similar to those not affected (-0.18 mg/dL [95% CI: -2.7, 0] P=0.831).

Conclusions: In women with normal glucose status, breastfeeding episodes are associated with a lower glucose concentration in the postprandial but not in the fasting state.