Barbie Creates First Doll With Features Of Type 1 Diabetes and Glucose Monitor

In a significant step toward diversity, Mattel has introduced Barbie's first doll with Type 1 diabetes. This world-first Fashionista was created with empathy and inclusion at its heart, in a key moment for the toy industry. The latest Barbie is based on supermodel Lila Moss and comes with a glucose monitor patch, wearable insulin pump, and a personal diabetes manager (PDM) stashed inside her studded purse. Her blue polka dot ensemble is a clear nod to a symbol of awareness for Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disorder in which the pancreas makes little or no insulin.

This consideration of others ensures that little girls with the illness have a doll they can relate to and a role model to look up to. Mattel has partnered with Breakthrough T1D to educate and bring together children from diverse cultures and backgrounds, not only to learn more but also to understand and share the emotions of what it's like to have Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). "This addition to the line enables more children to see themselves reflected in Barbie," Mattel said in a statement. The company aims to inspire play that extends beyond the child's worldview, fostering empathy and kindness toward others.

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With the release of a doll that showcases such a remarkable medical feat, Barbie proves herself to be the champion she has always been for the power of inclusivity, representation, and role-play. The campaign is about much more than adding a new character to the collection. It's about opening the hearts and minds of the world to the challenges faced by children living with Type 1 diabetes, in the hope that it will spark conversations about health and wellness.

To commemorate this feat, Mattel paid tribute to outspoken Type 1 diabetes advocates, including Peloton instructor Robin Arzón and model Lila Moss, daughter of supermodel Kate Moss, with their own personalized dolls. Amidst all the excitement of the doll's launch, it serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for awareness and support for Type 1 diabetes. And with the addition of these two new dolls, girls everywhere will have infinitely more ways to play out their stories and spark their imaginations through Barbie. And for the first time in the Barbie line, the two are on a kit of their own. This doll is a powerful demonstration of representation.