There’s a new Barbie on the block from Mattel and she’s making big moves for representation, one glucose monitor at a time.
Mattel just introduced a brand-new addition to its inclusive Fashionistas line: a Barbie with type 1 diabetes (T1D), equipped with a continuous glucose monitor on her arm and an insulin pump on her waist. And yes, in true Barbie fashion, the tech is pink and stylish.
The doll retails for $10.99 and was created in collaboration with Breakthrough T1D, a leading diabetes research and advocacy organization, to ensure that everything—from her medical devices to her accessories—is not just cute, but medically accurate.
“Introducing a Barbie doll with type 1 diabetes marks an important step in our commitment to inclusivity and representation,” Krista Berger, Senior Vice President of Barbie and Global Head of Dolls said in a recent press release. “Barbie helps shape children’s early perceptions of the world, and by reflecting medical conditions like T1D, we ensure more kids can see themselves in the stories they imagine and the dolls they love.”
This version of Barbie is decked out in a blue polka dot dress, (blue is the official color for diabetes awareness), light blue booties, and a matching purse, because obviously Barbie never forgets her fashion game. Her accessories? A phone displaying her glucose levels in real time, a snack-filled purse, and that super sleek insulin pump that mirrors the real-life devices used to regulate blood sugar.
Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune condition that affects over a million people in the U.S., prevents the body from making insulin. And with diagnoses on the rise, representation like this couldn’t come at a better time. According to the Cleveland Clinic, that number is projected to reach 5 million by 2050.
“It means the world to be part of bringing greater visibility to a condition that affects so many families,” said Dr. Aaron Kowalski, CEO of Breakthrough T1D. “It’s an honor to work with a brand that shares our commitment to showing children that a life with type 1 diabetes can be full, vibrant, and empowering.” Mattel partnered with Breakthrough T1D to ensure that all of their new Barbie doll’s medical devices were accurate.
This isn’t Barbie’s first step toward inclusivity either. The Fashionistas line already includes dolls who use wheelchairs, wear hearing aids, have vitiligo, or live with Down syndrome. And now? She’s also repping those living with T1D.
One thing’s for sure, this Barbie isn’t just playing pretend, she’s showing what real strength, visibility, and joy look like even as young ones are navigating living with T1D.
Photo Credit: Mattel Instagram
