Type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, cesarean section delivery, and lack of exclusive breastfeeding exposure in patients from the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, Mexico

Abstract Introduction: the combination of cesarean section delivery and limited exposure to full breastfeeding (FBF) in the first six months of life may increase the risk of obesity and diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to establish an association between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in adulthood, cesarean section delivery and incomplete full breastfeeding (FBF) in individuals from the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, Mexico. Methodology: this analytical cross-sectional study included patients over 18 years of age with T2DM and normal weight, overweight or obesity, regardless of sex. Informed consent was obtained. Variables encompassed T2DM, type of delivery method, first-year diet, family history, demographic, socioeconomic, and educational characteristics, and anthropometric measurements. For statistical analysis, Student's t test, chi-square tests and odds ratios were employed. Results: the study evaluated 218 patients with an average age of 57.8 years (± 12.7) and an average age at T2DM diagnosis of 46.2 years (± 12.5). FBF (65.6 %) and partial breastfeeding (PBF) (23.8 %) prevailed in the first six months. The average age at T2DM diagnosis was 46.7 years (± 12.1) for vaginally born patients and 30.7 years (± 15.5) for cesarean-born patients (p = 0.001). Cesarean delivery increased obesity risk by nine times in patients with T2DM [OR = 8.9 (CI, 1.05, 75.2),p = 0.02]. Conclusion: prioritizing the limitation of nonmedically justified cesarean section deliveries is crucial to mitigate the risk of obesity and T2DM in adulthood.