Mattel announced on Tuesday that it would launch its first Barbie doll with Type 1 Diabetes. Within the first 24 hours I was sent the information or tagged by four individuals. While I appreciate the normalization for my daughter and other T1D’s out there, I struggle internally with the concept.
I absolutely hope and pray that more individuals are willing to see devices on others and have understanding and knowledge versus gawking, pointing and whispering. I appreciate the heart behind the concept of normalization through play. I find myself asking, does it take a doll for this to happen? In the same breath, I will forever wish that diabetes wasn’t a thing.
According to Beyond Type 1, in the U.S. there are approximately 64,000 people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes each year. That means the number of cases of T1D are on the rise, so much so that Barbie is willing to take a gamble to create a doll for profit in this population. There are now enough kids with the disease that they know they will not take a loss of profit by putting the dolls on shelves. Note: At this point it is unclear if any proceeds from the doll will go to diabetes research at all.
In the early days of Karoline’s diagnosis we paid for her devices, treatment and insulin as cash pay patients. We paid at least $1,100/month. The lifelong change, daily struggles, the cost associated with this disease are astronomical hits on the individual and their family. So, to see a doll that has been created to make even MORE money off individuals with this disease is disheartening.
I do want to note that when Karoline was diagnosed she did receive the T1D kit for her American Girl doll and appreciated it. She also has since put her pump sets on dolls and stuffed animals. It is nice to have normalization in her life. As her mom I will forever and always wish that a T1D “doll kit” or a Barbie doll with diabetes wasn’t a thing. I wish things like this didn’t exist, because I wish the disease didn’t exist.
We are so thankful for all of the support we have in our lives for Karoline. May I ask a favor? Keep praying for a true cure, one that allows Karoline’s pancreas to fully function again on its own, and for it to happen soon. Even further, let’s pray that there is a way to figure out what causes a pancreas to quit so that we can prevent the need to correct a faulty pancreas.
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