New Single Score May Simplify CGM Data for Kids With T1D

What Was Studied and Why It Matters

Managing type 1 diabetes (T1D) in children is challenging — and reading continuous glucose monitor (CGM) data makes it even more complex. A CGM produces several different measurements at once: time in range, time above range, time below range, glucose variability, and more. For parents, caregivers, and even clinicians, making sense of all these numbers together can be overwhelming.

Researchers in this 2025 study looked at a newer, single-number score called the Glycemia Risk Index (GRI). The GRI is designed to combine both high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) risk into one easy-to-read number. The lower the GRI, the better the overall glucose control. This study asked: does the GRI actually track well with the other CGM measures we already trust — and does it work reliably in children?

What the Researchers Did

The team reviewed 307 CGM reports from 173 children and teenagers (average age 10 years) with T1D. They pulled standard CGM metrics from each report and calculated a GRI score for each patient. They then looked at how well the GRI lined up with other established measurements, including:

• Time in Range (TIR) — the percentage of time glucose stays in the healthy target zone
• Time Above Range (TAR) — how often glucose runs too high
• HbA1c — the traditional 3-month average blood sugar test
• Coefficient of Variation (CV) — a measure of how much glucose swings up and down

What They Found

The results were striking. The GRI had an extremely strong relationship with Time in Range — when TIR went up (meaning better control), GRI scores went down, almost perfectly in sync. GRI also tracked closely with how high blood sugars were running and how much glucose was bouncing around throughout the day.

Interestingly, the GRI had only a moderate connection to HbA1c. This is actually useful — it suggests the GRI captures information that a standard HbA1c test might miss, like dangerous blood sugar swings or frequent lows that average out on an HbA1c but still pose real risks.

What This Means for Families

For parents managing a child's T1D, fewer numbers to track could mean clearer conversations with your care team and faster decisions about adjustments to insulin, diet, or technology. A single GRI score could help quickly flag whether a child's glucose patterns are trending toward danger — from either direction.

Keeping CGM sensors properly stocked and functioning is essential to capturing the data that makes tools like GRI possible. MDS Diabetes carries a wide range of CGM supplies and accessories to help families stay consistent with monitoring.

Important Caveats

• This was a retrospective study — researchers looked back at existing records rather than testing GRI in a controlled trial
• The GRI is not yet a standard tool in most clinics, but its use is growing
• It should be used alongside, not instead of, TIR and HbA1c

Bottom Line

The Glycemia Risk Index shows strong promise as a simple, single-number summary of glucose control for children with type 1 diabetes. It captures both high and low blood sugar risks together, filling a gap that HbA1c alone cannot. Families and clinicians may soon see this metric used more routinely to guide care decisions.