Hundreds Of US Children Have Type 1 Diabetes, Now Their Barbie Has It Too

Growing up, a lot of us may have played with Barbie. Back then, there was a one-size-fits-all Barbie for everyone, unlike today, where the makers have finally understood that representation matters. In this new understanding of representation, even in dolls, the latest Barbie in chic blue-polka crop top and a miniskirt with chunky heels, is not just ready for summer, but also carries an insulin pump. The Barbie also has a continuous glucose monitor on her arm, and the button is held on by a strip of heart-shaped Barbie-pink tape. Her phone also shows an app with glucose readings. She also carries a light blue purse that holds all her supplies, including snacks that can help her manage her blood sugar throughout the day.This is the brand's first doll with type 1 diabetes.Why Does This Barbie With Type 1 Diabetes Matter?Dollmaker Mattel worked with Breakthrough T1D, which was earlier known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, to design the doll and to represent the 304,000 kids and teens, as noted by the American Diabetes Association. who are living with type 1 diabetes in the United States.The doll was launched on Tuesday with an aim to ask Congress to renew funding for the Special Diabetes Program, which had been first allocated by Congress in 1997. Currently, the program's funding will end after September.Also Read: Man Walks Into ER Feeling Unwell, Hours Later Starts Hallucinating—Now He’s Battling A Rare Disorder That Mimics Mental IllnessThe launch of the Barbie also focuses on the immense cuts made to federally funded projects in the past months, and thus, this launch is a way to draw people's attention on the said program that focuses on children with type 1 diabetes.What Is Type 1 Diabetes?As per the American Diabetes Association, Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, where your immune system mistakenly treats the beta cells in your pancreas that create insulin as foreign invaders and destroys them. When enough beta cells are destroyed, your pancreas cannot make more insulin, or makes so little that you need to take insulin to live.What Is Insulin?It is a hormone that helps blood glucose enter your body's cells so that it can be used as energy. If you have diabetes, blood glucose cannot enter your cells, so it builds up in your bloodstream, causing high blood glucose or hyperglycemia. Over time, high blood glucose harms your body and can lead to diabetes-related complications if not treated.Common Symptoms of Type 1 DiabetesUrinating oftenFeeling very thirstyFeeling very hungry—even though you are eatingExtreme fatigueBlurry visionCuts/bruises that are slow to healWeight loss—even though you are eating moreType 1 Diabetes In ChildrenA 2024 study published in JAMA Network, titled: Prevalence of Type 1 Diabetes Among US Children and Adults by Age, Sex, Race, and Ethnicity, notes that nearly 4 in every 1000 youths in the US reported having type 1 diabetes from 2019 to 2022. As per the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, of the 38.4 million people who had diabetes in 2021, 352,000 were children and adolescents younger than age 20, including 304,000 with type 1 diabetes.Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that even in type 1 diabetes, there are broadly two types:Immune-mediated diabetes: This is an autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system damages the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. This is the most common kind of type 1 diabetes.Idiopathic type 1: This refers to rare forms of the disease with no known cause.In children, there could be many factors that can cause type 1 diabetes, including if a family member has a condition, if the child is White, is from Finland or Sardinia, or is aged between 4 and 6 or 10 and 14.How Is Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosed In Children?To diagnose type 1 diabetes, the healthcare provider will start by asking about your child’s symptoms and overall health history. They may also ask questions about your family’s medical background. A physical exam will be done, and your child may need some blood tests, such as:Fasting plasma glucose test: This checks blood sugar levels after your child hasn’t eaten for at least 8 hours.Random plasma glucose test: This measures blood sugar at any time, especially if your child is showing symptoms like extreme thirst, frequent urination, or increased hunger.A1C test: This gives an average of your child’s blood sugar levels over the past 2 to 3 months. A high A1C level can help confirm a diagnosis of diabetes.How is Type 1 Diabetes Treated in Children?Children with type 1 diabetes need daily insulin to manage their blood sugar. Insulin can be given either through injections or an insulin pump. Your child’s healthcare team will teach you how to use whichever method is best for your child.Treatment also involves:Healthy eating: This includes planning meals carefully, counting carbohydrates, and eating at regular times to help control blood sugar.Physical activity: Regular exercise helps lower blood sugar levels.Monitoring blood sugar: This includes checking levels several times a day, often using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM).Testing urine: To check for ketones, which can be a sign of a serious complication if blood sugar is too high.

Hundreds Of US Children Have Type 1 Diabetes, Now Their Barbie Has It Too

Quick Stories

Canine Parvovirus Outbreak Among Pet Dogs In Ontario, Can Humans Also Get Infected?

1 Dead And 40 Sick With Legionnaires Outbreak In London– What You Need To Know

West Nile Virus Spotted In Weld County Mosquitoes, Here’s What You Need To Know

Health Conditions A-Z

Canine Parvovirus Outbreak Among Pet Dogs In Ontario, Can Humans Also Get Infected?

1 Dead And 40 Sick With Legionnaires Outbreak In London– What You Need To Know

Even After The Elimination Of Measles In 2000, Why Is US Struggling With It Today?