Infographic: How Breastfeeding Protects Mothers

Breastfeeding reduces type 2 diabetes risk by boosting beta cells.

Written byRachael Moeller Gorman

| 1 min read

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Lactation stimulates cells in the pituitary gland to produce the hormone prolactin (1), which, in mice, binds to beta cells in the pancreas (2). This leads to a signaling cascade that increases the cell’s production of serotonin (3). Serotonin binds to a separate receptor on the beta cells, stimulating them to proliferate and produce more insulin (4), and also serves as an antioxidant that protects cells from free radicals. Researchers propose that these mechanisms explain why women who breastfeed their children have reduced long-term risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

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Meet the Author

Rachael Moeller Gorman
After earning a bachelor’s degree in biology and neuroscience from Williams College, Rachael spent two years studying the tiny C. elegans worm as a lab tech at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard University. She then returned to school to get a master’s degree in environmental studies from Brown University, and subsequently worked as an intern at Scientific American, Discover magazine, and the Annals of Improbable Research, the originators of the yearly Ig Nobel prizes. She now freelances for both scientific and lay publications, and loves telling the stories behind the science. Find her at rachaelgorman.com or on Instagram @rachaelmoellergorman.
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