Barbie rolls out doll with type 1 diabetes; here's everything you need to know
Created in collaboration with Breakthrough T1D, formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, this Barbie is designed to reflect the experiences of more than 304,000 children and teens in the United States who live with type 1 diabetes, Barbie's official Instagram handle stated.
Unveiled on Tuesday at the Breakthrough T1D Children's Congress in Washington, DC, the doll made her debut during the three-day event. This new Barbie features realistic tools used by people with the disease, such as a CGM on her arm secured with heart-shaped Barbie-pink tape, a phone application showing her real glucose levels, and a matching light-blue purse consisting of supplies and snacks for blood sugar regulation. The doll's CGM also features a daily blood sugar graph, highlighting the highs and lows many diabetics experience.
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Emily Mazreku, director of marketing and communications at Breakthrough T1D, has type 1 diabetes herself and played an intrinsic role in the doll's development. 'Mattel approached us, and they wanted this to be a part of their Fashionista line. And we jumped on that opportunity right away,' CNN quoted Mazreku.
She spent nearly two years leading focus groups and gathering input to ensure the doll authentically reflected the community's needs. The glucose readings on Barbie's phone are from a real day in Mazreku's life during the design process, CNN reported.
The Fashionista line now includes over 175 diverse dolls, representing a wide range of skin tones, body types, and disabilities. Among them are dolls with vitiligo, prosthetic limbs, hearing aids, and a white cane for blindness. In 2024, the Barbie with Down syndrome and the blind Barbie were among the top sellers globally.
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