Mattel’s latest Barbie doll is raising awareness about a disease that affects millions of adults and hundreds of thousands of children.
It’s the first Barbie with type 1 diabetes.
The toymaker worked with the research group Breakthrough T1D to design a doll to make sure it accurately represents someone who is living with the condition. The doll includes accessories like an insulin pump, a glucose monitor, and snacks to help her control her blood sugar levels.
“Introducing a Barbie doll with type 1 diabetes marks an important step in our commitment to inclusivity and representation,” said Senior Vice President of Barbie and Global Head of Dolls Krista Berger. “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.”
It is part of the Barbie Fashionista series, which is the brand’s diverse doll line.
“Visibility matters for everyone facing type 1 diabetes,” said Breakthrough T1D Marketing Strategy Director Emily Mazreku. “As a mom living with T1D, it means everything to have Barbie helping the world see T1D and the incredible people who live with it.”
“Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition. In this condition, the pancreas makes little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone the body uses to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy,” the Mayo Clinic explains.
More than 300,000 kids and teenagers live with the disease in the United States alone.
The 2025 Barbie Fashionistas dolls, including the Barbie doll with Type 1 diabetes, are now available on Mattel Shop and at retailers nationwide.