The Glucose Never Lies® Podcast

<p>Host John Pemberton — diabetes educator, researcher, and dad living with type 1 since 2008 — explores how to think clearly about type 1 diabetes in the real world.</p><p><br /></p><p>Each episode translates current evidence and expert practice into decisions you can use: CGM accuracy and interpretation, getting more from pumps and automated insulin delivery, movement as a glucose tool, nutrition that protects performance and enjoyment, sleep, travel, parties, and sport.</p><p><br /></p><p>Guests include leading clinicians, researchers, and people with lived experience. Expect respectful challenge, plain language, and practical take-aways.</p><p><br /></p><p>Note: Educational only. No therapeutic relationship or personal medical advice.</p><p><br /></p><p>Buy the GNL a Coffee to keep us independent:  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jspfree2s</p><p><br /></p><p>Email: john@theglucoseneverlies.com </p>

24 — Skincare, Sensors & Smarter AID Algorithms for Type 1 Diabetes

Suggest guests or get in contact Host: John Pemberton, RD Guest: Dr Laurel Messer, PhD, RN Epidose page - Detailed show notes Episode FAQ - Dr Messer answers the FAQ's (free Downlaod) In this episode, Dr Laurel Messer joins John to break down the real science behind skin integrity, sensor performance, and the hidden link between skincare and safer automation. Drawing on leading research from the Barbara Davis Center, the Panther Program, and international AID consensus work, this conver...

11-23
01:00:27

23 — From Diabetes Brunches to Bali by Creating a Type 1 Diabetes Community with Dr Temi Olonisakin

Suggest guests or get in contact Join John Pemberton as he sits down with Dr Temi Olonisakin — the doctor who turned a lonely Type 1 diabetes diagnosis at 17 into a movement of connection, confidence, and pancakes. From small brunch tables in London to dreams of Bali gatherings, Temi’s story shows how joy, representation, and community can change what it means to live with diabetes. How one young doctor turned isolation into connection — building a joyful, inclusive community for people livin...

10-28
48:40

22 — From Diabetes Burnout to the CGM Access Blueprint — Kirsten de Klerk (South Africa)

Suggest guests or get in contact When sixteen-year-old Kirsten de Klerk was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, she asked how long she’d have to live like this. Her doctor replied, “Every day for the rest of your life.” Years later, that sentence became the fuel for change. Sign the CGM Access Petition: In less than one-minute, you can change global access to CGM forever. In this episode, John Pemberton talks with Kirsten about her journey from diabetes burnout to national advocacy, and how her w...

10-25
57:28

21 — Partha Kar’s SPARK: Transforming diabetes care using his “Five-to-Drive-Change”

Suggest guests or get in contact Professor Partha Kar joins The Glucose Never Lies® Podcast to unpack how the UK moved from research to reality in continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and hybrid closed-loop systems (AID) — and how the same approach can be applied to any challenge in life or leadership. Through openness, accountability, and courage, Partha helped create one of the fastest national tech adoptions in healthcare history. At the centre of that journey sits a practical philosophy an...

10-19
43:19

20 — Standardization of Testing CGM Performance: The Nuts and Bolts with Stefan Pleus of the IFCC

Suggest guests or get in contact Episode 20 — Standardization of Testing CGM Performance: The Nuts and Bolts With Dr. Stefan Pleus (Institut für Diabetes-Technologie, Universität Ulm; Chair of the IFCC Working Group on CGM). Full show notes and FAQ, and consider buying me a Coffee to keep pumping. In this episode, we go deep into the future of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) standards. Dr. Pleus explains why the FDA iCGM framework (2018) is no longer enough, what a robust international st...

09-30
58:01

19 – iCGM vs eCGM vs Standardisation by the IFCC: CGM Regulation with Dr. Guido Freckmann

Suggest guests or get in contact 19 – iCGM vs eCGM vs Standardisation by the IFCC: CGM Regulation with Dr. Guido Freckmann Full show notes and FAQ, and consider buying me a Coffee to keep pumping Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has transformed diabetes care — but how do we know which systems are accurate, safe, and truly comparable? In this episode, John Pemberton is joined by Dr. Guido Freckmann (Institute of Diabetes Technology, Ulm; former chair of the IFCC CGM Working Group). To...

09-30
28:51

18 — Physical Activity vs Exercise: the Before–During–After Playbook with Prof. Othmar Moser

Suggest guests or get in contact What’s the difference between physical activity and exercise when you live with type 1 diabetes? And why does it matter? Full show notes & transcript: Episode 18 page In this episode, I’m joined by Prof. Othmar Moser, exercise physiologist, guideline author, and fellow person with type 1, to break down: Why 10 minutes of activity after meals is the easiest, most powerful place to start.The 20/20 and 40/40 rules — how 20 minutes of light m...

09-24
01:02:35

17 – GLP-1 in Type 1 Diabetes: beyond weight loss, towards metabolic therapy?

Suggest guests or get in contact Episode 17 — GLP-1 in Type 1 Diabetes: Beyond Weight Loss, Towards Metabolic Therapy Go to the Podcast page for all the notes, insights, and further reading & listening. Subscribe to The Glucose Never Lies® and receive the Summary PDF with all the key take-home messages and practical implementation strategies. Support The Glucose Never Lies® Podcast ☕ Buy Me a Coffee 💙 Donate Guest: Professor Viral Shah, MD Professor of Medicine & Directo...

09-12
01:08:35

16: Diabetes & Driving: Why You Need to Be 5 to Drive

Suggest guests or get in contact Episode 16 — Diabetes & Driving: Why You Need to Be 5 to Drive Show summary PDF and full notes here Support The Glucose Never Lies® Podcast ☕ Buy Me a Coffee 💙 Donate Guest: Professor Pratik Choudhary (University of Leicester, Leicester Diabetes Centre; Chair, DVLA Medical Advisory Panel on Diabetes) Host: John Pemberton (The Glucose Never Lies Podcast) Episode Overview Driving with type 1 diabetes is not just about safety. It comes with clear l...

09-07
54:58

15: C-Peptide - What type of type 1 diabetes do you have?

Suggest guests or get in contact Hosted by diabetes dietitian John Pemberton, this show blends science and real-life experience to make managing type 1 diabetes easier, clearer, and more human. Smart insights, practical tips, and honest conversations await. It's all about C-Peptide and what it means for people living with T1D! 🕒 [00:09] Think all T1D is the same? Think again. 🕒 [02:14] Some people really do have it harder — and “brittle diabetes” might...

07-31
23:20

14: Overcoming Insulin Resistance in Type 1 Diabetes

Suggest guests or get in contact In this deep-dive episode, John Pemberton explores the misunderstood world of insulin resistance in people with type 1 diabetes. Drawing on years of personal experience, clinical expertise, and the latest research, he breaks down why insulin resistance matters—even in a condition defined by insulin deficiency. Click here for the detailed 3-part write up The episode walks through the 'Ominous Octet', eight mechanisms that drive insulin resistance, and explains ...

07-27
46:22

12: CGM Functionality (Part 3): The Bells and Whistles

Suggest guests or get in contact In this episode of the Glucose Never Lies podcast, hosts John Pemberton and Louise discuss the intricacies of diabetes management, focusing on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems. They explore various CGM features, including calibration, alarms, and connectivity with automated insulin delivery (AID) systems. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding individual needs when selecting a CGM, as well as the role of technology in enhancing ...

05-09
30:21

11: CGM Accuracy (Part 2): Understanding MARD, 20/20, 40/40, and Error Grids.

Suggest guests or get in contact In this episode of the Glucose Never Lies podcast, hosts John Pemberton and Louise discuss the intricacies of diabetes management, focusing on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems. They explore the importance of CGM accuracy, the standards set by regulatory bodies, and the significance of testing conditions in evaluating these devices. The conversation delves into various metrics used to assess CGM performance, including MARD, 20/20 and 40/40 agreement ...

04-10
31:37

10: CGM Accuracy (Part 1) "Study Design First, Performance After"

Suggest guests or get in contact In this episode of the Glucose Never Lies podcast, hosts John Pemberton and Louise delve into the intricacies of diabetes management, focusing on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems. They discuss the importance of understanding CGM accuracy, the significance of study design in evaluating sensor performance, and the key questions to ask when assessing the reliability of these devices. The conversation emphasises the need for robust testing conditions to...

04-10
27:48

9 - ATTD 2025 Highlights and New CGMs (Good, Bad and Ugly!)

Suggest guests or get in contact In this episode of the Glucose Never Lies podcast, John Pemberton shares insights from the ATTD 2025 conference, discussing advancements in diabetes management technologies, including automated insulin delivery systems and continuous glucose monitoring. He emphasizes the importance of early intervention with AID systems, the role of GLP-1 receptor agonists, and the impact of exercise and nutrition on diabetes control. The conversation also highlights the need ...

03-29
26:46

8a: 99 Problems (But Highs Ain’t One) — The 20 by 2 Rule

Suggest guests or get in contact This bonus Episode 8B is a family special — co-created with my daughter Grace. It takes the science of activity lowering glucose and flips it into something fun: a rap we call 99 Problems (But Highs Ain’t One). The key message? When you’re above 10 mmol/L (180 mg/dL), just 20 minutes of activity can drop glucose by 2 mmol/L (≈40 mg/dL). That’s the “20 by 2” (or 20 by 40) rule. But, Grace said 8 years olds don’t want to hear 20 by 2! They want...

03-12
01:23

8 - Activity Snacking to Increase Time in Range for T1D

Suggest guests or get in contact Welcome to The Glucose Never Lies podcast In today’s episode, we explore a game-changing approach to glucose control—activity snacking. If you’ve ever struggled with post-meal spikes, found insulin too slow to bring down highs, or wondered how movement could help stabilise your blood glucose, this episode is for you. I’ll be sharing the latest research on how small, frequent movements can supercharge insulin, improve time in range, and reduce glucose hig...

03-07
27:39

7 - Fundamentals of The Glucose Never Lies

Suggest guests or get in contact Welcome to The Glucose Never Lies Podcast! In this episode, we’re laying down the fundamentals of diabetes management—the essential principles you need to understand to make informed decisions about your health. We’ll break down: What happens when you eat carbohydrates and how your body processes glucoseWhy insulin behaves differently in type 1 diabetes, leading to post-meal spikes How physical activity supercharges insulin, making it work more effectivel...

03-07
15:51

6 - Ten Tips to Optimise Time in Range with AID Systems

Suggest guests or get in contact Welcome to The Glucose Neverlies Podcast. In this episode, we’re diving into practical strategies to optimise time in range (TIR) when using Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) systems for type 1 diabetes. Managing blood glucose levels can be unpredictable, but AID systems have transformed diabetes care by automating insulin delivery in smarter, more responsive ways. However, achieving the best possible outcomes still requires understanding key strategies, ...

03-06
38:16

5 - Mastering Omnipod 5 – The Iron Man of AID Systems

Suggest guests or get in contact Welcome to The Glucose Neverlies Podcast. In this episode, we’re focusing on Omnipod 5, the sleek, high-tech Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) system that offers simplicity, automation, and a tubeless design. Much like Iron Man’s suit, Omnipod 5 is built for efficiency and ease, allowing for seamless insulin adjustments without the hassle of tubing. If you’re looking for a system that requires minimal user input and delivers smart automation, this could b...

03-06
15:36

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