Breastfeeding may diminish the risk of diabetes and heart diseases

Hi folks,

Just came across this article in Baiboo, a portal which has a lot of interesting articles for parents!


Excerpts:

A new study suggests that Mothers who breastfeed seem to have a lower long-term risk of developing a collection of risk factors for diabetes and heart disease than women who bottle-feed.

Researchers found that among 700 women followed for 20 years, those who had breastfed were less likely to develop metabolic syndrome — a cluster of risk factors for type 2 diabetes and heart disease that includes abdominal obesity, elevated blood pressure and blood sugar, lower-than-desirable levels of "good" HDL cholesterol and elevated triglycerides (a type of blood fat).

What's more, the apparent protective effect was stronger among women with a history of gestational diabetes, a form of diabetes that arises during pregnancy and goes away after childbirth.

Although it is temporary, gestational diabetes does raise a woman's odds of eventually developing type 2 diabetes.

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For more on this article, check out Baiboo's site here, they have lotsa other useful articles on parenthood!

What a good one! So breastfeeding not only helps to reduce Breast Cancer risk, but also diabetes and heart disease! So mommies out there, Breastfeeding is the way to go!

Cheers!

Eiks I am at risk?!

When I read the article below from TheStar Online, especially after reading my blogger friend, Ailian's posting here, I start asking myself..Am I a risk? Eiks..better start watching my diet!

Who is at risk?

AMONG the general population, those who:

·Have Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) symptoms

·Have a parent, brother, or sister (first-degree relative) with T2DM

·Have had heart disease

·Have abnormal blood cholesterol levels (HDL, or "good" cholesterol, level below 0.9mmol/L or triglyceride level above 1.7mmol/L)

·Have high blood pressure (above 140/90mm Hg; on therapy for hypertension)

·Have a clinical condition associated with insulin resistance       

·Are overweight (BMI over 23; or waist wider than 80cm for women and 90cm for men)

·Do not exercise regularly (less than three times a week, 20 minutes at a time)

·Are women with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Pregnant women who:

·Have a BMI over 27

·Have delivered a baby weighing 4kg or more (Shone was 4.24 kg when he was born, 15 days earlier from my due ...a scheduled c-section by gynae and specialist at govt. hospital!)

·Have a bad obstetric history and/or current obstetric problems

·Have gestational diabetes mellitus

·Have glucose in their urine at the first prenatal visit

·Are over 25

TAKE ACTION: If you have any of the risk factors above, ask your doctor to screen you immediately. If you do not have any of them, ask your doctor to screen you annually from age 30 and up.

Overweight children and teenagers (over 120% of ideal weight) who have:

·A first- or second-degree relative (aunt, uncle, grandparent, nephew, niece, half-sibling) with T2DM

·A mother who has had gestational diabetes mellitus

·An Indian ethnic background

·Signs of insulin resistance or conditions associated with it

TAKE ACTION: If your child or teen meets any two of the criteria above, make sure he or she is screened for T2DM at least every two years from age 10 onwards, or at the onset of puberty if puberty occurs before then.

Information sourced from the latest edition of the Ministry of Health's T2DM Management Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG).

The CPG is available at moh.gov.my/MohPortal/cpgPublic.jsp and will be officially launched in Putrajaya on August 11. — LEE TSE LING