Lifestyle/August 18, 2026/2 min read

What We Know About Diabetes Technology in Primary Schools

A new research review examines how children with Type 1 diabetes and their parents use insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors, and other devices during the school day—and what challenges they face.

PubMed indexed literature

Evidence label explains the kind of source behind this article (for example peer-reviewed literature vs community video). It is not medical advice.

lifestyleexercisesleepstress

Key takeaways

Diabetes technologies like insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors are becoming more common in primary schools, but how they're used varies widely
Managing these devices at school involves children, parents, and school staff, and clear responsibility can sometimes be unclear
Research on school diabetes technology use is still fragmented, making it hard to understand what works best across different settings

Why This Matters for School-Age Children

Insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), and other diabetes management tools have transformed how children with Type 1 diabetes care for themselves at home. But using these technologies during the school day introduces new questions—and challenges—for children, parents, and school staff.

A new review published in JBI Evidence Synthesis mapped out what researchers have learned so far about diabetes technology use in primary schools (for children ages 6 to 12). The goal was to understand which technologies children are using, who manages them during the school day, and what benefits and barriers exist.

What Researchers Looked For

The review examined published studies, research reports, and gray literature (unpublished research and dissertations) from databases including MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Embase. Researchers looked for any qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods studies that included primary school-age children and/or their parents and focused on diabetes technology use in the school environment.

The search was conducted in April 2025 and included peer-reviewed journals, dissertations, and other sources. Two independent reviewers screened studies to ensure quality and relevance.

Why the Research Gaps Matter

Despite growing use of diabetes technologies in schools, evidence about their real-world use during the school day remains scattered and incomplete. Understanding what works—and what doesn't—in school settings could help families and educators make better decisions about technology use, training, and support.

This review highlights the need for more comprehensive research on how children, parents, and schools navigate diabetes technology together, and what strategies help ensure safe, effective management throughout the school day.

Evidence label

Source: JBI evidence synthesis. Evidence type: PubMed indexed literature. Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.

Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.

More evidence-labeled coverage across the Type1Cure library.