For the first time in its history, Barbie has launched a doll with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) to raise awareness and support children living with the condition.
The new Barbie was revealed at the Breakthrough T1D Children’s Congress in Washington. She comes with medical tools like an insulin pump, a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), a mobile phone showing real-time sugar levels, and a small blue handbag with diabetes care items.
Wearing a blue polka-dot outfit (the color linked to diabetes awareness), the doll also has pink heart-shaped tape to hold her CGM in place — a realistic touch for kids who use similar devices.
Mattel says the doll represents the over 340,000 children in the U.S. living with T1D. This is part of Barbie’s Fashionistas line, which promotes inclusion and shows real-life differences.
Krista Berger, Barbie’s Senior VP, said the goal is to help children see themselves in the dolls they play with and feel understood.
Emily Mazerico, a person with T1D who helped design the doll, shared that the CGM on Barbie shows a real sugar level (130 mg/dl) — her own reading on the day the doll was created.
Experts have praised the launch, saying it can help reduce stigma and encourage empathy in young children. Many parents of kids with T1D have welcomed the new Barbie, saying it gives their children a sense of belonging and pride.
