Mattel releases first ever Barbie with Type 1 diabetes
Mattel has introduced its first Barbie representing a person with Type 1 diabetes, as part of wider efforts from the toy maker to increase inclusivity among its dolls.
In an announcement Tuesday, Mattel said it had partnered with Breakthrough T1D - a Type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organisation formerly known as Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, or JDRF - to ensure that the design of the doll "truly captures the community."
That includes accessories that "accurately reflect the medical equipment" people with Type 1 diabetes may need, the California-based company noted.
"Visibility matters for everyone facing Type 1 diabetes,' Emily Masreku, director of marketing strategy at Breakthrough T1D, said in an accompanying announcement.
And as a mother who lives with Type 1 diabetes, she added, "it means everything to have Barbie helping the world see T1D and the incredible people who live with it.'
The new Barbie wears continuous glucose monitor (CGM), a device that tracks blood sugar levels, on her arm - while holding a phone displaying an accompanying app. She also has an insulin pump attached to her waist. And the doll carries a blue purse that can be used to carry other essential supplies or snacks on the go.
The Barbie's outfit is blue, too - with polka dots on a matching top and skirt set. Mattel says that this colour and design are nods to symbols for diabetes awareness.
This new doll "enables more children to see themselves reflected in Barbie,' Mattel wrote Tuesday, and is part of the company's wider Fashionistas line committed to inclusivity.
The line features Barbies with various skin tones, hair colors and textures, disabilities, body types and more. Previously-introduced Fashionistas include a Ken doll with a prosthetic leg and a Barbie with hearing aids. Mattel also introduced its first doll with Down syndrome in 2023.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 38.4 million Americans of all ages - amounting to about 11.6% of the U.S. population – were estimated to have diabetes as of 2021, the latest year with data available. About 2 million had Type 1 diabetes, including about 304,000 children and teens younger than 20.
Barbie's new doll with Type 1 diabetes was also introduced at Breakthrough T1D's 2025 Children's Congress held in Washington, D.C. this week, where the organisation is advocating for continued federal research funding. This year, Breakthrough T1D has been particularly focused on the Special Diabetes Program, which is currently set to expire in September. – AP
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