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The objective of this study was to test whether glycemic control varies between adolescent patients diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who are depressed and those who are not, after controlling for confounding factors. We hypothesized that diabetic children who have depression or a high risk to develop depression will have worse glycemic control, as indicated by higher hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) values. This was a retrospective case-control study. A chart review was conducted in the Section of Endocrinology at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia. Multivariate linear regression was used to determine effects of individual variables. A total of 214 records were included out of 263 reviewed. Significant differences were observed in type 1 diabetics (n = 156) between depressed and non-depressed patients in the percentage of females in the group (P =.002), the duration of diabetes (P =.005), age at diagnosis (P =.01), hemoglobin A1c (P =.03), and the percentage of those with a HbA1c greater than 14% (P =.03). Depression was associated with significant increases in HbA1c values in type 1 diabetics (P <.001). An interaction effect (P =.055) was observed between sex and depression. Given the small sample of children with type 2 diabetes, we were unable to perform any meaningful statistical analysis in this subgroup of patients. We have detected a significant association between depression and glycemic control in adolescent girls with type 1 diabetes. This association appears to be moderated by sex. Depressed patients with type 2 diabetes generally display higher HbA1c values than their non-depressed counterparts. • Significant differences were found between depressed and non-depressed patients with type 1 diabetes. • Depression was associated with increases in hemoglobin (A1c) HbA1c values in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. • Association between depression and HbA1c values for type 1 diabetes appears to be moderated by sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]