2026/07/28 by Fiona L. Britten, Emma Shipton, Madeline Duke +2
Medicine · #Breastfeeding Practices and Influences #Gestational Diabetes Research and Management #Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
paper · doi:10.1111/dme.70315
openalex publication_date 2026/07/28 · openalex created_date 2026/07/29 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
AIMS: There is evolving evidence of the metabolic benefit of breastfeeding for women with diabetes and their infants but little data about breastfeeding prevalence and duration in women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This is the first systematic review to examine prevalence and duration of breastfeeding in women with pregestational diabetes and variables associated with breastfeeding establishment. METHODS: A systemic literature review was conducted to assess breastfeeding prevalence in women with pregestational diabetes, and to describe variables reported to affect prevalence. The study was registered with the PROSPERO database (CRD42023447299). RESULTS: Women with type 1 diabetes had lower prevalence and shorter duration of breastfeeding compared with normoglycaemic women. In contrast, there was insufficient evidence regarding prevalence and duration of breastfeeding in type 2 diabetes. Multivariate analysis identified variables associated with reduced breastfeeding prevalence or duration in pregestational diabetes. These included elevated body mass index, reduced maternal education, and less frequent early breastfeeding. Only two studies found an independent association with diabetes. No studies controlled for all likely confounders. CONCLUSIONS: Breastfeeding prevalence and duration are likely reduced in type 1 diabetes; however, evidence in type 2 diabetes is inconclusive. A significant knowledge gap remains in this area; further research is required to establish the prevalence of breastfeeding and associated variables in women with pregestational diabetes. Given the long-term metabolic benefit of lactation in women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and the increasing prevalence of pregestational type 2 diabetes, further data are needed to design effective interventions to support breastfeeding in this population.