I've been breastfeeding for 10 months so far. Like most things, it is slightly more challenging with diabetes but perfectly manageable.
• I dropped my insulin doses to pre-pregnancy rates as soon as Eva was born, and then reduced by another 25% to compensate for breastfeeding. I've only started increasing my insulin again in the last few weeks.
• I have never eaten so much in my life! For the first couple of months I was ravenous. I found I dropped an hour or so after a feed, so id try and eat just before/after a feed to compensate. I also had juice boxes and cereal bars within reach whenever I was feeding - you don't know if they're going to feed for 10 mins or an hour and you don't want to get stuck. TV remote, phone and a large glass of water are also essential nearby.
• I had all kinds for snacks - fruit, yoghurt, cereal, toast, sandwich, cereal bars. I found I really craved (and needed) carbs. The best present we got was a delicious homemade fruitcake. That kept me going for a while!
• For the first couple of weeks I did pretty much nothing but cuddle and feed. I was feeding every 2-3 hours so not much time for anything else, plus id had an elective section so needed to rest. I really recommend it. Those first weeks are precious and you soon have to rejoin the world. Take as much time as you can to enjoy those early days and get the hang of feeding.
• My hospital breastfeeding team showed me how to express colostrum from 36-38 weeks. I collected it twice a day (you get tiny amounts) and froze it. When Eva was born she didn't have low BG but we gave her colostrum via syringe to be safe so that she had food while I was being stitched up. She then latched on as soon as I cuddled her 30 mins later.
• This isn't diabetic specific, but don't be afraid to ask for help. At pretty much every feed for the first two days I asked for help as her latch wasn't quite right. That help made all the difference.
• Some people say diabetes can delay the milk coming in. Eva was born weds am and my milk arrived sat pm. Until then she was getting colostrum, which is is fine, but feeding seemed much easier once my milk came in. Rest, eat and drink lots and feed baby frequently to help build your milk supply.
• Get some Lansinoh Lanolin nipple cream and apply it after every feed. That really helped me with the initial soreness.
Sorry, that's turned into a bit of an epic. I hope its helpful. If you've got any questions just shout