Lactogenesis is constituted by phases I and II. The transition between those phases is characterized by an increase of the lactose concentration in the colostrum. This study aimed to evaluate the interference of type 1 Diabetes mellitus in the transition between phases I and II of the lactogenesis. The lactose concentration was determined in colostrum samples of 11 puerperal women with pre-gestational Diabetes mellitus and 19 without the disease, during the five first days of the puerperium. The lactose concentration was determined by reaction with picric acid. In both groups there were progressive increases in the lactose levels along the time; however, the increase was significantly lower in the 3rd and 5th days for the group of the women with diabetes. The analysis of the transition between the lactogenesis phases revealed that the puerperal diabetic women with inadequate glycemic control presented a time delay of 18 hours to reach phase II, making difficult the establishment of breastfeeding.
Diabetes mellitus; Human milk; Lactogenesis; Lactose
