Glycemic control showed a consistent relationship with academic performance in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1DM), despite variable findings across studies. A systematic review published in Pediatric Diabetes evaluated academic achievement based on school grades in children and adolescents with T1DM and examined its relationship with glycemic control.

A structured search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar identified studies assessing school-grade–based academic performance in youth with T1DM. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool. A total of 16 studies involving 26,794 participants met the inclusion criteria, with 13 studies rated as having a low risk of bias.

Among 11 studies comparing school grades between youth with T1DM and peers or national norms, findings were inconsistent. Five studies reported lower academic performance in those with T1DM, five found no significant differences, and one reported reduced performance in primary school but not in secondary school. Among 10 studies evaluating glycemic control, eight reported that higher hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were associated with lower school grades.

Academic performance in youth with T1DM showed variable results across studies, while higher HbA1c levels were consistently associated with lower academic achievement.