New Barbie doll 'allows girls with type 1 diabetes to see themselves'

In Greta Gerwig's Barbie movie, Barbieland is a haven of equality and diversity.

- Anna Bawden

But, while the dolls have been sold since 1959, it was only in 2019 that maker Mattel started selling Barbies with physical disabilities.

Mattel has now launched its first Barbie with type 1 diabetes, the latest addition to a range it says has been designed "to enable more children to see themselves reflected and encourage doll play that extends beyond a child's lived experience".

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, often diagnosed in childhood, where the body attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. Patients have to monitor their glucose levels and take insulin every day.