December 25, 2009

Health Tip: Breast-feeding With Diabetes

(HealthDay News) -- Following pregnancy, diabetic women need to continue careful monitoring of their blood glucose levels as their bodies adjust to postpartum hormonal changes, disturbed sleep and other changes in the daily routine.

The American Diabetes Association says breast-feeding can make it more difficult to manage blood glucose. It offers these suggestions:

• Make sure you have something to eat before you nurse or while you're nursing.
• Drink plenty of fluids each day. It's a good idea to drink water or another non-caffeinated drink while nursing.
• Keep something to counter low blood glucose next to you while you nurse, so you don't have to interrupt baby's meal if your blood glucose becomes low.
• Work with your dietitian and your doctor to adjust your diet plan while breast-feeding, which does burn calories and can affect blood glucose.

-- Diana Kohnle

id=634012