Supermodel Lila Moss meets new Barbie with type 1 diabetes
This new Barbie is part of the Fashionistas line. The doll comes equipped with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) on her arm and an insulin pump around her waist.
These devices are commonly used by people managing type 1 diabetes.
The doll wears a blue polka-dot outfit, a colour and pattern internationally recognised as symbols of diabetes awareness, according to the BBC .
She also carries a pastel blue purse designed to hold diabetes supplies and snacks, reflecting the practical needs of those living with the condition.
The medical devices are realistically detailed, including heart-shaped medical tape securing the CGM.
The doll even holds a phone displaying a glucose monitoring app to track blood sugar levels throughout the day.
Krista Berger, Mattel's senior vice president and global head of Barbie dolls, said:
'This new doll signifies a significant advancement in our dedication to diversity and inclusion. Barbie plays a crucial role in shaping children's early understandings of the world.
By incorporating health conditions like type 1 diabetes, we empower more children to envision themselves in the narratives they create and the dolls they cherish'.
Mattel partnered with Breakthrough T1D, an organisation dedicated to type 1 diabetes research and advocacy, to launch the doll and ensure it accurately represents the community.
Barbie dolls have remained popular for decades because they offer more than just a toy, they provide a versatile platform for imagination and aspiration.
Ruth Handler created Barbie in 1959 and designed her to encourage girls to see themselves in a wide range of roles.
This broke away from traditional baby dolls that emphasised caregiving.
Supermodel Lila Moss, who has type 1 diabetes herself, was the first to meet the doll. She expressed her support, saying:
'I think it is really important to embrace this technology because it makes living with diabetes so much easier and more practical. It is important to embrace these patches and having them, not hiding them'.
This Barbie joins other diverse dolls, such as those representing blindness and Down syndrome. This continues Mattel's commitment to reflecting the real world in its toys.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
20 hours ago
- The South African
King Charles III shares health update amid cancer fight
King Charles III has offered a rare and uplifting update on his health as he continues to battle cancer. Since publicly revealing his diagnosis in February 2024, the British monarch has kept his spirits high while juggling a busy schedule of royal duties. During a recent visit to the Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket, King Charles spoke candidly with a royal fan, Lee Harman, according to E News. Harman shared with the PA News agency how the monarch described his condition. 'He said he was feeling a lot better now and that it was 'just one of those things,'' Harman recounted. This simple but honest statement reflects how the King is managing his illness with remarkable composure. Buckingham Palace later confirmed Charles' condition is under control, describing it as a 'managed condition.' A source told NBC News in December 2024 that his treatment cycle would continue into next year. Despite this, Charles remains committed to fulfilling his royal responsibilities alongside Queen Camilla. In April 2025, Charles shared insights from his cancer journey at a reception honouring cancer researchers at Buckingham Palace. He emphasised the human experience behind the statistics. 'Each diagnosis, each new case, will be a daunting and at times frightening experience for those individuals and their loved ones,' he said in a statement distributed at the event. 'Being one among those statistics myself, I can vouch for the fact that it can also be an experience that brings into sharp focus the very best of humanity. The darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion.' Interestingly, King Charles' announcement came just a month before his son, Prince William, and daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton, revealed Kate's cancer diagnosis. The Princess of Wales completed chemotherapy in September 2024 and recently opened up about her ongoing recovery. Kate acknowledged the challenge of the post-treatment phase. 'You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment,' she said during a visit to Colchester Hospital in early July. 'Treatment's done, then it's like, 'I can crack on, get back to normal,' but actually, the phase afterwards is difficult.' She stressed the importance of support from loved ones. 'Someone to help talk you through that, show you and guide you through that sort of phase that comes after treatment, I think is valuable.' At 76 years old, King Charles continues to inspire many. His ongoing treatment and busy schedule show determination. As the monarch puts it, sometimes facing cancer is 'just one of those things.' This attitude, combined with his courage and grace, encourages countless people battling illness across the Commonwealth and beyond. With his health managed and his spirit strong, King Charles remains a symbol of hope. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
#TheSomedayShift: From ‘I can't' to canyon conqueror
Welcome to The Someday Shift – a space where we celebrate everyday people who stopped waiting and started doing. Convincing people to try something they never thought possible is one of my superpowers and these are their stories. Two years ago, I received a call from a fast-talking, very nervous woman. 'Hello,' she blurted out. 'I want to join your programme, but I'm unfit, carrying more weight than I'd like (who isn't, I thought to myself), and I can't even walk around the block.' I listened and simply replied, 'Come and try. You'll be fine.' I reassured her she would be safe. It's important to create spaces where people can show up, even when they don't feel like they belong in an active setting. They may look different or not fit a mould and that is okay. That woman was Nicola Smuts, and she recently crossed the finish line of Kruger2Canyon, a multi-day trail event through some of South Africa's most breathtaking and demanding terrain. The race spans the northern Drakensberg, the Blyde River Canyon and bushveld near Kruger National Park. But Nicola's journey didn't start with a grand goal. It began with one brave decision: To move, to try, to step outside her comfort zone. She pitched up and kept pitching up. From struggling to walk around the block to completing her first 5km, then 10km. Her family began to notice the change. Nicola wasn't dabbling in a fad, she was creating a new normal. She wasn't sure where it would all lead, only that she needed change. With support from the Ordinarily Active community, consistent effort and a quiet shift in mindset, transformation followed. 'I never saw myself as that person,' Nicola reflected. 'But over time, I hesitantly started to believe I could be.' That's what living life actively is about. Not being the fittest or fastest, but showing up, especially when it feels hard. It's about becoming the kind of person who does things they once thought impossible. It's about contributing and inspiring others along the way. Was Kruger2Canyon hard? Absolutely. Did she doubt herself? Yes. Was it worth it? A resounding YES. So if you have been waiting for a sign – this is it. Start walking. Start moving. Start believing. Because what if 'someday' became today? Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below.
IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
Cyber bullying: deadly mental health crisis in SA schools
Bullying at South Africa's schools is no longer just about dealing with bruises. The advent of social media brings a whole new facet of bullying and pupils' mental health. SOUTH Africa's schoolchildren are in the grip of a mental health crisis, with many turning to suicide and self-harm to cope with emotional pain. The cause, experts say, is bullying, which has reached epidemic levels. Reports suggest that between 40% and 75% of pupils fall victim to it at some stage. One organisation says the situation is so dire that at least 11 children take their own lives each day. Dr Alicia Porter, a board member of the South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP), says bullying can also intersect with race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status, with children from disadvantaged backgrounds more likely to experience bullying in diverse, multi-ethnic environments. 'We're not just dealing with bruises anymore,' says Porter. 'I work with children and families, and there's just been such a significant increase," she says. "Before, bullying would be contained just in that environment. But with this now intersecting with the digital space, things can go viral at the click of a button, and once it's out there, you might delete it, but it cannot stop the spread.' Porter refers to a study by the Children's Institute, which found that 40% of school-going children in the country have experienced some form of bullying. She says primary and high school pupils are anxious, depressed, and in some cases suicidal. When bullying is compounded by digital shame, the psychological damage can be lifelong. 'It's no longer limited to fists and name-calling; voice notes, group chat exclusions, photo manipulation and public shaming via platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp and TikTok create humiliation that leaves the child feeling even more vulnerable and helpless. For many victims, there's no escape.' Porter warns that bullying has led to increased rates of anxiety, depression, substance use, and even suicide. 'It's like almost a pandemic of unkindness that has been unleashed,' she says. 'Kids are making videos of kids being bullied, and while that sort of exposes what happened, we never really think about the victim and the shame and what that might do to their mental health.' More worrying, says Porter, is that schools often don't have clear or consistent ways of dealing with bullies, or even policies in place. 'So oftentimes, the victim is further traumatised by interacting with the school system, and then they're made to feel even worse, they are made to blame, or they're not taken seriously.' She recalls one case in which a school decided a 10-year-old child who had been bullied must be sent to a hospital for 21 days. Bullying, she says, is one of the main reasons why children self-harm. 'They're in distress so they cut themselves. They don't want to go to school, or their marks start to suffer, or you see a change in their behaviour. So we react to the behaviour without really understanding what might be the underlying reason.' The trauma doesn't end when a child leaves school, but follows them into adulthood, she warns. 'Mental health issues don't start in adulthood. You start developing risk factors in childhood,' Porter says, calling it a 'silent, seeping wound.' But while the victim is traumatised, the bully often needs help too. 'Bullies are also victims of trauma, neglect, or violence at home,' says Porter. 'They target those they perceive to be weaker to elevate their social standing and to fit in.' Children from disadvantaged communities, or who face differences in race and ethnicity, are especially vulnerable. Girls and boys are both at risk, but the forms of bullying differ. 'With boys, it's definitely more overt. So they are more victims of physical bullying, verbal bullying. Whereas with girls, it's a lot more subtle — exclusion, name-calling, spreading rumours, isolating them. Girls are more likely to be targets of relational or verbal bullying.' Porter doesn't believe banning digital devices is the answer. 'We're going to need to learn how to navigate rather than just take it away, because what does that do? It just buys us maybe a little bit of time. The digital age has arrived, and as parents, it's uncharted territory. We can't phone a friend or your grandma and ask her, how did you do this? We're making up the rules as we go along, but we do need to make up rules. But we haven't — and so it's kind of exploded.' She says most of her patient referrals come from teachers and has advocated for them to be trained to handle bullying and mental health issues. 'It only takes one child to lead the charge, but peer pressure turns cruelty into performance,' she says. Despite laws protecting children, many schools lack consistent policies, training, or accountability, particularly in rural or under-resourced areas. 'This is a crisis hiding in plain sight,' warns Porter. 'The emotional violence of bullying is as real as any physical wound. And unless we intervene now with urgency, compassion and a commitment to justice, we are failing an entire generation.' Danie van Loggerenberg, CEO of the National Centre for Child Protection (NCCP), says mental health complications among children are the highest they've ever been. 'Eleven children die by suicide every day,' he says. According to van Loggerenberg, up to 83% of pupils will be bullied at some stage, and because children often feel they have no one to turn to, many are turning to ChatGPT for help. He says bullying has evolved into a digital battlefield, with children creating 'shade rooms' and 'channels' on WhatsApp where they run polls on who is 'hot or not', complete with victims' photos. Their research shows that 160,000 children skip school every day because of bullying. About 90% of bullying is child-on-child, and boys are more likely to be physically violent, while girls can be far more cruel. 'That's why you won't get a movie called Mean Boys — only Mean Girls,' he says. Adeshini Naicker, Director of Childline KZN, says while physical bullying is more common in primary school, emotional and psychological abuse, including cyberbullying, intensifies in high school. 'With the rise of social media, emotional bullying now extends beyond the classroom, making it harder to escape and more damaging over time. Effective prevention needs to start early, involve schools, parents, and communities, and address both physical and emotional forms of harm,' says Naicker. The Department of Education could not be reached for comment.
