Barbie Launches First Doll With Type 1 Diabetes
Model Lila Moss, who lives with type 1 diabetes, has helped launch the first Barbie doll with type 1 diabetes in partnership with Mattel and Breakthrough T1D. The new doll aims to inspire, educate, and reduce stigma for young people living with the condition.
Children living with chronic conditions like type 1 diabetes often face stigma, isolation, and misunderstanding, with many feeling compelled to hide their condition due to fear of bullying and social exclusion. Studies have shown that this type of stigma can have a detrimental impact on both their mental health and diabetes management.
In 2016, American Girl took an important step toward inclusivity by releasing a Diabetes Care Kit for Dolls, allowing children with diabetes to see their daily realities reflected in their toys. The kit included items such as an insulin pump, glucose tablets, a medical alert bracelet, and a blood sugar monitor, helping to normalize diabetes care through play. This thoughtful addition was meant to empower children to share their experiences and educate others while promoting acceptance and understanding.
To further promote inclusivity and tackle the stigma associated with the condition, Mattel partnered with Breakthrough T1D, a global organization dedicated to type 1 diabetes research and advocacy, to launch its first Barbie with type 1 diabetes. This partnership marks a major milestone in Mattel’s commitment to greater representation, and highlights Breakthrough T1D’s pivotal role in ensuring visibility for the type 1 diabetes community.
The doll is part of the Barbie Fashionistas line and includes key diabetes management tools modeled accurately with the help of Breakthrough T1D. The type 1 diabetes Barbie wears a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) secured with Barbie-pink, heart-shaped tape, and has an insulin pump at her waist. She also comes with a CGM-tracking smartphone, a pastel blue purse, and a blue polka dot outfit – blue being the color that symbolizes global diabetes awareness.
As part of a broader initiative to elevate voices in the type 1 diabetes community, Barbie also partnered with two global role models living with type 1 diabetes: Peloton Instructor Robin Arzón and model Lila Moss.
Mattel’s one-of-a-kind doll based on Arzón features her signature yellow outfit and a crown-shaped CGM on the back of her arm.
In interviews, Moss has highlighted the positive impact that the type 1 diabetes Barbie’s visibility has already had, saying she receives daily messages from young people who feel less insecure about wearing their diabetes devices thanks to her public advocacy.
When Linxi Mytkolli, director of patient engagement at Diabetes Action Canada and person with diabetes, heard about the new “Dia Barbie,” she said she teared up.
“I grew up loving dolls, but I never saw one that reflected the reality I now live with – until Dia Barbie. Seeing a doll with a CGM, insulin pump, and even heart-shaped medical tape felt surreal. It’s playful, powerful, and personal all at once,” said Mytkolli.
Mytkolli also emphasized that representation and visibility in toys and media can help chip away at shame.
“I’ve heard from so many people, especially those diagnosed in childhood, who delayed using tech like pumps or CGM because it felt like a punishment. Visibility in toys helps normalize these devices and makes kids feel like they're not alone or ‘othered.’ It turns stigma into something softer – something that can be talked about, shared, even celebrated,” Mytkolli said.
And its impact goes beyond people living with diabetes. Laura Pavlakovich, who is the founder and CEO of You’re Just My Type and has lived with type 1 diabetes since age five, shared that this representation is equally crucial for those without diabetes, as it demystifies the condition and challenges stereotypes.
“This kind of representation builds a vital bridge of empathy, illustrating that living with diabetes is simply a part of life for millions. It's an essential tool for educating the public and cultivating a more inclusive and supportive society for everyone,” said Pavlakovich.
Pavlakovich shared her personal experience of growing up with diabetes and how this will provide validation for those with the condition who often feel unseen.
“I vividly remember growing up with a 'my twin' doll, custom-made to look just like me, yet she always lacked the crucial part of my daily reality: an insulin pump. To finally see a Barbie, an iconic figure in childhood play, accurately depict someone living with type 1 diabetes, complete with her devices and pump, is truly a monumental moment,” said Pavlakovich.
To celebrate the launch, Barbie donated dolls to the Breakthrough T1D 2025 Children’s Congress in Washington, D.C., where 170 young advocates for type 1 diabetes from around the world met with lawmakers to raise awareness. Priced at $10.99, the doll is now available on Mattel Shop and at retailers nationwide.
While this is a huge win for enhancing the representation of children living with diabetes, it doesn’t end there. There is still significant work to be done to improve access to diabetes medication and technology.
“It is not lost on me that Barbie has more access to diabetes tech than many, if not most, people with diabetes globally,” said Mytkolli. “Representation and access – we deserve both.”
By bringing a common but misunderstood condition into children’s toy boxes, the new type 1 diabetes Barbie is more than a toy. It’s a symbol of pride, visibility, and the message that children with diabetes can live full, empowered lives.
As Mytkolli said, “Whether a child is living with diabetes, or loves someone who is, this doll quietly says, ‘You’re not broken. You belong.’”
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