There’s a new Barbie in town and she’s smashing stereotypes

“I showed her the Barbie and she loved it. I really want to get her one when it becomes available." 

When I was a kid, Barbie had one look: blonde, thin, perfect.

She wore pink power suits, drove a convertible, and somehow had time to be both a vet and an astronaut.

She didn’t eat Vegemite sandwiches or have mozzie bites on her legs.

Her only imperfections were the ones I gave her. When I treated her like my hairdressing client or got a little too creative with my texta collection.

She definitely didn’t come with an insulin pump or a blood sugar monitor.

But now? Barbie does.

In a huge win for visibility and representation, Mattel has released its first-ever Barbie with Type 1 diabetes.

First-ever Barbie with Type 1 Diabetes introduced. Image: Breakthrough T1D/Mattel

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"It shows normality and inclusivity" 

Type 1 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes in Australian children and teens, according to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.

It occurs when the body can’t produce enough insulin, causing glucose to build up in the bloodstream.

For families, it means juggling constant blood sugar checks, insulin injections, and planning every snack, mealtime, and outing with care.

Which is exactly why Perth mum Abby is delighted to see the new doll on the Dreamhouse block.

“I think it’s great that this new barbie doll has been released. It shows normality and inclusivity for all people with type 1 diabetes,” Abby told Kidspot. 

Her daughter Billie was recently diagnosed, and life has changed in big ways.

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“My four year old daughter was just diagnosed one month ago,” Abby said.  

Billie now wears a CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor) or, as Abby affectionately calls it, her "special button."

That’s why this Barbie couldn’t have come at a better time. Because this new doll wears a CGM, just like Billie.

“I showed her the barbie and she loved it. I really want to get her one when it becomes available,” Abby explained. 

Billie when she was first diagnosed in the hospital. She wears a CGM which Abby calls her “special button." image: Supplied

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“She’s like me.”

The doll also comes with an insulin pump, a purse to carry type 1 diabetes supplies or snacks, and a stylish blue polka dot dress which is a nod to global diabetes awareness.

Kids use dolls and toys to role-play life. It helps them process, imagine, and feel included.

When children with chronic conditions never see themselves reflected, it can send a subtle but damaging message that they are “different” or don’t belong.

This new Barbie is part of a growing movement to ensure every child can find themselves represented on the toy shelf.

The doll’s manufacturers worked closely with Diabetes charity, Breakthrough T1D, to ensure the barbie was accurate from her medical equipment all the way down to the pattern of her dress.

She now joins a growing collection of dolls designed to make children feel seen in their play.

Mattel has previously released a blind Barbie, a doll with Down syndrome, a Barbie who uses a wheelchair, and one with hearing aids.

The company says its goal is to “inspire children to tell more stories through play, and to reflect the world around them.”

Barbie now also comes in a wider range of skin tones, body shapes, hair textures, and careers.

Representation isn’t about ticking a box. It’s about a child holding up a doll and saying, “She’s like me.”

This Barbie may wear a monitor and an insulin pump, but to one little girl, she looks like a hero.

Originally published as There’s a new Barbie in town and she’s smashing stereotypes