Constant daily blood sugar testing, regular medical check-ups and occasional hospitalizations can all take their toll on the emotional health of children with diabetes. In a study published in the medical journal Pediatrics, researchers recommended that diabetic children receive regular check-ups for symptoms of depression and chronic anxiety from their family doctor. Past studies have indicated that diabetes dramatically increases a child’s risk of developing depression. In this study, researchers estimated that 14% of kids with diabetes experience at least mild depression, while an additional 8.6% suffer from moderate-to-severe chronic depressive episodes. Girls with diabetes were found to be slightly more prone to depression than boys.