Objectives: To describe the characteristics of hospitalizations (excluding initial hospitalizations) among children with diabetes and the characteristics of hospitalized children with diabetes. Methods: 924 children (aged <18 years) who received at least three reimbursements for oral antidiabetic medications and/or insulin between August 1, 2006, and July 31, 2007, were randomly selected from among beneficiaries of two health insurance plans. Reimbursements for medical care and hospital stays were analyzed over the period from August 1, 2007, to July 31, 2008. Children not treated with insulin during this period were excluded. Results: The study included 884 children (50% boys, mean age 12±4 years), 82% of whom were primarily managed in the hospital. During the study year, 52% of the children were hospitalized, 21% multiple times. Approximately one-third (36%) of the children were hospitalized for follow-up, and 13% for acute complications of diabetes. Compared to children not hospitalized for diabetes follow-up, those hospitalized were more likely to use an insulin pump (p<0.01) and were primarily managed by a hospital physician (p<0.0001). Hospitalization for follow-up was less frequent among adolescents aged 15 years and older (p<0.02). Children hospitalized for acute complications of diabetes were more likely to have Universal Health Coverage (p<0.001) than children not hospitalized for acute complications. The rate of hospitalization for ketoacidosis was higher among girls than among boys (p<0.02). Conclusion: The study assessed the burden of hospital care for children and adolescents with diabetes in 2007–2008. Hospitalizations for acute complications, which are too frequent, could be partially prevented through better diabetes control. Diabetes management, involving an annual multidisciplinary evaluation conducted primarily in a hospital setting, remained underutilized. (R.A.)