Breastfeeding with high sugar levels

Diabetes and Pregnancy Trying to Get Pregnant
1

Hi everyone!
I'm new here, so if this topic has already been covered, just let me know :)
I've been diabetic for over 20 years, and am now breastfeeding my second daughter, age 1 year + 4 months.
I'm also a lactation counsellor by profession.

Whenever disucssing breastfeeding with association with diabetes, the main concern is always having low blood sugar since breastfeeding uses so much of the moms energy.
BUT - I was just thinking about the other side of the coin, and cannot seem to find a good answer anywhere !

Does HIGH blood sugar effect mothers breastmilk?
is there a level of blood sugar that is too high to breastfeed?
if the mom has high blood sugar that leads to ketones - does that affect the breastmilk and can the baby nurse if the mother has ketones???

Thanks so mcch for your insight

2

Hi Taligaga,

Welcome to the group!

There are doctors (most notably LOIS JOVANOVIC, MD) who discourage women from breastfeeding when high due to the increased risk of the baby getting a yeast infection in their mouth (candida). Most people on this forum (including me) continue to breastfeed their baby regardless of their blood sugar level.

Here are two older discussions about the topic:
Breastfeeding and high glucose levels
Breastfeeding with ketones?