American Girl, the doll company that made us love history as children and has created service dogs, wheel chairs, crutches and other accessories for their dolls, has done it again. But this time, they’ve created a doll-sized diabetes care kit.
It’s $24 and includes a blood sugar monitor, an insulin pump, a lancing device, a vial of pretend glucose tablets, an ID card, an insulin injection pen needle, logbook and stickers, a medical bracelet and a pretty carrying case to put it all in.
The girl behind the idea of a diabetes care kit is 13-year-old Anja Busse, according to The New York Times. She was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 11. When she received her first American Girl doll, it was exactly like her—but without the diabetes. She began a petition to make diabetes kits and it received 7,000 signatures. The company noticed the demand and came through.
American Girl has been fostering inclusivity since it began. Girls can customize dolls to look just like them, skin color and all. The company’s historic line includes Hispanic, African American, Jewish and Native American dolls. It was only a matter of time until the diabetes care kit made an appearance.
Matt Wahmhoff, the designer of the kit, told the Times: “Now little girls will be able to incorporate diabetes in their play, not only when they play with their dolls, but when they interact and play with their friends, and raise awareness.”
American Girl never ceases to amaze us, and we can’t wait to see how the company continues to change and grow in the coming years.