“The inclusivity is beautiful”: Fans react as Barbie launches Type 1 diabetes doll

Mattel has made a significant move to make Barbie's world more relatable. They've added more diversity to the beloved Fashionistas line with a Barbie who has type 1 diabetes.

Wearing a blue polka-dot crop top and a fun ruffled skirt with big chunky heels, this Barbie is all about style. But she's not just about looks; she also wears a glucose monitor on her arm and has an insulin pump at her waist.

Barbie is launching its first doll with Type 1 diabetes, Mattel announces.

The doll will sport a glucose monitor and insulin pump. pic.twitter.com/u2XWdDJmhX

— Pop Base (@PopBase) July 9, 2025

People on social media are happy about this news. One user (@szasoomf) took to their X account and commented:

"The inclusivity is beautiful"

How Barbie's new doll empowers kids with Type 1 diabetes and sparks meaningful advocacy

The new release by Barbie is not just a doll, but an awareness and inclusion tool for children with type 1 diabetes.

With her insulin pump at her side, this new Barbie has a tiny glucose checker on her arm, held by a line of heart-shaped, Barbie-pink tape. This small but key bit tells of the daily lives of many kids with Type 1 diabetes.

In her hand, she has a phone that monitors her sugar levels through an easy app. To stay set, Barbie has a light blue bag full of stuff and snacks to keep her sugar stable all day, a smart choice that still goes well with her shoes.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Barbie (@barbie)

In the promotional photos on her official Instagram, the doll is wearing a continuous glucose monitor taped with heart-shaped tape, a small but believable detail, as many kids do the same with their devices, and her pink phone displays a glucose tracking app in use. Barbie's Instagram handle shared:

"The doll represents the incredible people living with T1D, and shows kids that a life with this condition is just as vibrant, fulfilling, and rich with possibilities."

Mattel went beyond design and is providing these dolls to children at the Breakthrough T1D 2025 Children Congress in Washington, a bi-annual conference in which children living with diabetes speak out about why more government funding is critical to their care through the Special Diabetes Program.

This heartfelt launch shows that an iconic toy company can leverage its platform to replicate the reality of medical experiences and give young people a chance to get more support and education.

The Senior Vice President and Global Head of Dolls, Krista Berger, who is behind Barbie, thinks that the legendary line of dolls significantly influences the perception of children about the world they live in. To present the broader picture of what children encounter, by including dolls with an appearance of real-life health conditions, such as type 1 diabetes, Barbie is attempting to demonstrate this picture.

"Introducing a Barbie doll with type 1 diabetes marks an important step in our commitment to inclusivity and representation. 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."

What the netizens say

People online are happy to see Barbie moving into being more fair to all, filling social media with encouraging words about the latest launch:

"omg queen," a user (@buffys) commented.

"This is cute and representation truly matters because there are many kids with type 1 diabetes and with them having a Barbie just like them will sure make them happy and not feel different or left out oh this is a W for Mattel," another user (@HARRYSHOUSE3) commented.

"having been born with diabetes, this would have made the little girl me so happy to see my condition being represented back then... i'm all in for this inclusivity," a netizen (@positionsmafiaa) commented.

Some other users said:

"Representation matters. Huge shoutout to Mattel for introducing a Barbie with Type 1 diabetes — showing kids they’re seen, supported, and unstoppable," a netizen (@Web3Hashira_) expressed.

"That's amazing. It's incredible to see a doll with Type 1 diabetes introduced, as someone who grew up with Barbies. Numerous children will find great significance in this," a user (@khushi_ly) wrote.

"We love to see the dolls continue to get more and more inclusive!" a netizen (@grandeunext) wrote.

"Whenever I would go out to clubs and bars I would always see guys wearing that and I was just like what is that and then it took me a while and I was like oh they have diabetes it's a monitor. Some people will be like, "Why do this, but yeah, representation matters," another user (@IamBluPearl) wrote.

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