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This bonus episode takes you behind the scenes of a moment that made many people with Type 1 diabetes feel truly seen. Lauren visits Breakthrough T1D headquarters in New York City to sit down with Pam Morrisroe and uncover how the T1D Barbie went from an idea to a global symbol of representation. Pam shares her role in bringing community voices into the process and why getting the details right was not just important, it was everything.
What unfolds is a powerful conversation about visibility, confidence, and the emotional weight of representation for kids and adults living with an often invisible condition. This episode is not about perfection or optics. It is about normalizing devices, embracing difference, and shifting the narrative from hiding diabetes to owning it with pride.
WHAT WE COVER:
- How Mattel and Breakthrough T1D partnered to create the T1D Barbie
- Why community input was essential in the doll’s design
- The intentional choices behind the CGM graph, pump number, and devices
- Navigating criticism and misconceptions around representation
- What visibility means for kids growing up with Type 1 diabetes
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
1️⃣ Representation matters, especially for an invisible condition like Type 1 diabetes
2️⃣ Getting it perfect is not the goal. Getting it real is what builds confidence
3️⃣ Embracing what makes you different can change your entire relationship with T1D
WHAT’S NEXT:
💻Apply for coaching and talk to our team so you can reclaim the life you deserve with T1D.
📧Join thousands of T1Ds reading our newsletter every Tuesday: T1D tips and encouragement, straight to your inbox.
Stay connected with us:
Email us at: hello@riseyhealth.com
IG: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth
TikTok: @lauren_bongiorno | @riselyhealth
YT: Reclaim Your Rise
SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If this episode made you feel seen or reminded you that you do not have to hide your diabetes, subscribe and leave a review so more people with T1D can find these conversations.
