Breastfeeding Lowers Diabetes Risk

Filed in archive Family Matters on September 28, 2006

The benefits of 'mother's milk' have long been praised. Along with providing nourishment and guarding against infections, it also appears to lower diabetes risk in children.

The new study found that breast-feeding for at least two months cut the risk of non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM) by more than 50%.

"Given the possible protective effect of breast-feeding on non-insulin dependent diabetes in the Pima Indian population, the disturbing worldwide trends toward less breast-feeding, and the increased rate of NIDDM -- particularly in developing countries -- further data about the risk of NIDDM and breast-feeding practices from other populations are clearly needed," reported lead study author Dr. David J. Pettitt in the current issue of the journal The Lancet.

Do you breastfeed? Do you believe the positive impact may indeed be this high?