As rates of type 1 diabetes continue to rise among kids, Mattel is helping to raise awareness with the release of the first-ever Barbie doll with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Barbie partnered with Breakthrough T1D (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), a leading global type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization, to create a representative doll with accessories. She has a glucose monitor taped to her arm with pink, heart-shaped medical tape, along with a phone that displays an app that tracks her blood sugar. She will wear a small insulin pump on her waist to dose her insulin as needed. And of course, in true Barbie fashion, she’ll be dressed in a cute polka dot top and matching skirt with ruffles – the color blue and circle print are global symbols for diabetes awareness. Her matching purse lets her carry her diabetes supplies or snacks, in case her sugar goes low.
The purpose is for kids to see themselves reflected in toys, and encourages play in a way that mirrors their life and makes them feel included, according to a statement from the company.
Type 1 diabetes usually affects kids and young teens. It is an autoimmune condition that causes the pancreas to make very little or no insulin, and the cause it not yet known. There is no cure, but people need insulin therapy and have to monitor high and low blood sugars. Long-term, T1D can damage the kidneys, eyes, nerves, and heart. Nearly 4 in every 1,000 kids and 5 in every 1,000 adults in the U.S. reported having T1D from 2019 through 2022.
About 1/3 of kids ages 12 to 17 have prediabetes, in addition to a rise in obesity among teens, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that analyzed the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In 2023, an estimated 8.4 million teens, or 32.7 percent of the U.S. adolescent population, had prediabetes. This can increase the risk for type 2 diabetes (which is based on health and lifestyle), heart attack and stroke later in life.
If your kid has diabetes, Breakthrough T1D offers tips on how to manage it at school, including a checklist, tips for speaking with teachers and nurses, and how to handle low and high blood sugars.
To continue spreading awareness, Barbie donated dolls to the Breakthrough T1D 2025 Children’s Congress earlier this week, when 170 children ages 4-17 who are living with T1D went to Washington, D.C., to meet members of Congress. Barbie also honored two global role models and type 1 diabetes advocates – Peloton instructor Robin Arzón in the U.S. and model Lila Moss in the UK – with their own one-of-a-kind Barbie dolls.
This new doll is part of the Barbie Fashionistas line, which has more than 175 looks across various skin tones, eye colors, hair colors and textures, body types, disabilities, and fashion styles, including a blind Barbie doll, a Barbie doll with Down syndrome, and a Barbie doll with hearing aids, among others. All the dolls are available on Mattel Shop and at stores across the country.
Read More:
Barbie Launches First-Ever Barbie Doll with Down Syndrome
A Feminist Icon Joins Barbie’s Inspiring Women Lineup
What Every Parent Should Know About Diabetes
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