The Influence of Maternal Glycemia on Breastmilk Composition and Volume Ingested by Infants of Mothers with Type 1 Diabetes

OBJECTIVES: Examine relationships between maternal glucose, breastmilk composition and volume ingested by infants of mothers with type 1 diabetes(T1D). To compare breastmilk composition of women with and without T1D.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Mid-feed breastmilk samples were collected from 11 mothers with T1D. Maternal continuous glucose monitoring(CGM) data were correlated with breastmilk composition and volume ingested. Breastmilk composition was compared between women with and 5 without T1D.

RESULTS: 47 breastmilk samples from mothers with T1D were analyzed. Maternal glucose 90-120 minutes before breastfeeding correlated with breastmilk glucose and fructose but not lactose, protein, fatty acids, leptin or volume consumed. Breastmilk leptin correlated with volume of breastmilk consumed (r=0.394 p=0.008). Higher breastmilk glucose (1.0±0.3 versus. 0.7±0.3 mg/ml) and leptin (463.6±480.0 versus 114.4±68.6 pg/mL) were found in women with versus without T1D.

CONCLUSIONS: Maternal glucose is associated with breastmilk glucose and fructose in women with T1D but not volume of breastmilk consumed.