I’m a type 1, I have a daughter who will be one at the end of the month. I’m weaning her from breastfeeding and have been giving her cow milk once a day. I have been reading lots about cow milk being a possible trigger in the onset of type 1. Does anyone have opinions about limiting or not giving milk to little ones for this reason?
I am currently pregnant (first child and I am also T1D) and have been looking up research relevant to this topic. My conclusion based on what I’ve read is that there is no evidence for a causal relationship when babies are exposed to cow milk AFTER 6 months. The more convincing studies show somewhat increased risk when babies are introduced to cows milk very soon after birth. So I think if, similarly to you, I am able to breastfeed exclusively until my baby is a year old, I personally would feel happy.
Here are some of the articles I have consulted (in reverse chronology):
https://medlineplus.gov/news/fullstory_163146.html (Narrative summary; you can look up the actual newest study with the citation at the bottom of the text. At the moment the DiabetesCare page is not cooperating for me to send you a working direct link, but it should be within this issue: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/40/1.)
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Thank you for all this information, it makes me feel a lot better about giving her milk now. I know there are a lot of variables, but I want to do everything in my power to ensure she doesn’t develop diabetes!