Insulin is not passed into breastmilk and is considered safe¹ for use during breastfeeding. Glyburide is sometimes prescribed for type 2 Diabetes. Limited data² indicate that the levels of glyburide in milk are negligible.

Those with diabetes who are breastfeeding and using insulin can nurse their infants. Exogenous insulin is excreted into breastmilk, including newer biosynthetic insulins (e.g., aspart, deglutec, detemir, glargine glulisine, lispro), but insulin is a normal component of human milk and may decrease the risk of type 1 diabetes in human milk fed infants.³

Insulin-dependent donors are encouraged to make healthy lifestyle choices and to stay in close communication with their healthcare providers.

Please see ‘Medications’ for more information as well.

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1. JEANNE P. SPENCER, M.D., et al. 2001. Medications in the Breast-Feeding Mother ↩︎
2. NIH – Glyburide ↩︎
3. NIH – Insulin ↩︎