The Glucose Never Lies®

Where to start?

I’d recommend finishing this page first — it explains why The Glucose Never Lies® exists.

But if you’re an action-taker, go ahead and dive straight in — whatever floats your boat.

If you’re new to type 1 diabetes, I’d suggest following this order after subscribing to the GNL Weekly Brief.

T1D Foundations (understanding T1D and how to survive)
Dynamic Glucose Management (how to thrive)
Mealtime Insulin Guide (dominating high-carb and high-fat meals)
Exercise Guide (insulin on board is king — and how to stay in target)
CGM Guide (how to think about accuracy and choose a CGM system wisely)
AID or HCL Guide (why they are awesome, how to choose, and limitations)
Partying with T1D Guide (how to stay safe and still rock the party circuit)
Insulin Resistance with T1D Guide (why T1D fat loss is so hard)
Children’s T1D Guides (under 5s to school holidays)
Listen to the GNL Podcast (blending the science and art of T1D)
Resources (find all the best bits in one place)
Articles (thoughts on topics of interest)
Conference Reports (keep up to date with what’s current)
Contact and Conflicts (conscious and unconscious bias)
AID or HCL Study Day (in the weeds of AID)
Me as a T1D with ADHD and an FMD (how managing three is hard)

Why create this resource?

In 2019, my son, Jude, tested positive for type 1 diabetes auto-antibodies on a preliminary screening blood test.

In just six weeks, I created a comprehensive type 1 diabetes education platform by combining my work as a specialist diabetes dietitian, educator and researcher with nearly two decades of life with type 1 diabetes.

The Glucose Never Lies® was built on a rare blend of clinical expertise, lived experience and desperation to ensure the best care for Jude.

Two months after the preliminary positive result, Jude tested negative for type 1 diabetes auto-antibodies on the blood draw.

This false positive happens at least 5% of the time.

Relief?

Yes — but Jude and/or Grace could develop type 1 diabetes at any point. After all, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 27.

Furthermore, children of dads with type 1 diabetes are around 100 times more likely to develop type 1 diabetes.

The GNL’s evolution

Between 2019 and 2022, The Glucose Never Lies® took shape during short bursts of creative energy and spare time. I developed a best-in-class continuous glucose monitoring guide that blended cutting-edge research with real-world insight to help people manage glucose levels in everyday life.

By 2022, feedback from the Glucose Never Lies® community was clear. People were saying the platform gave them something they couldn’t find elsewhere — genuine clarity.

Not only that —

They wanted more of it: more honesty, more science made simple, and more access to the kind of knowledge usually only shared at conferences. That feedback shaped the GNL’s future. The new mission was clear.

The GNL must go beyond basic education and translate the complex and ever-growing science into education that is engaging, practical and actionable for anyone living with type 1 diabetes, or supporting someone who is.

This meant reaching people through multiple formats — from clear written guides and evidence-based articles to, eventually, a podcast designed to make learning both accessible and enjoyable.

In January 2025, the GNL Podcast launched — and that changed everything.

Governance, independence and funding

What began as a simple platform for people living with type 1 diabetes became a recognised voice in the field, growing rapidly and requiring more time, energy and creativity.

In October 2025, The Glucose Never Lies Ltd was incorporated with a first-class team operating under a robust governance structure.

The Glucose Never Lies Ltd has two directors who are supported by three world-leading scientific advisors.

Together, we bring science to life by keeping every piece of content accurate, transparent and true to its mission of helping people make sense of type 1 diabetes.

We share insights and practical knowledge with those who subscribe to the GNL Weekly Brief and listen to the GNL Podcast. Please note that engaging with GNL content does not create a therapeutic relationship.

Becoming a limited company has enabled us to secure small educational grants. But The Glucose Never Lies® remains primarily community-funded. Most of what we do is powered by generous donations from people living with type 1 diabetes and those who support them.

The income never comes close to matching the countless hours invested in creating content — and that’s okay. We operate from a Skin in the Game mindset: driven by passion and purpose, not profit.

Being funded by the diabetes community keeps our work independent and free from industry bias. It allows us to produce education at the same pace as the science itself — helping people with diabetes stay as informed as those who attend major conferences.

If you find our work valuable, please consider making a one-off or small monthly contribution to help keep us moving forward. Every donation directly supports evidence-based, independent education for the type 1 diabetes community.

Support the GNL Podcast

Bi-weekly Episodes — Fund with £8 / month

We love what we do. We get to bring science out of the lab, to the street — just like in this video, where Grace shows how a bit of movement can quickly bring high glucose levels back into range.

How is the GNL written?

Each section is usually made up of two parts.

The first part is created for people like Dani, my amazing wife. This part explains precisely what to do, with a clear explanation of why. There are no scientific references — just straight-up quality education.

The last part of most sections is for people like the John Pemberton of 2008. This part goes deep into the “why” and is littered with scientific references and detailed diagrams.

The underpinning mechanisms of why strategies work are debated. It is fuelled by an obsession to know why glucose behaves in unpredictable ways.

This part will be enjoyed by those obsessed like me and who have some background in physiology, nutrition or psychology. It can be skipped by those not interested in nerdy details.

To be crystal clear, when there are specific instructions, they are meant as guidance only.

For any reader, this information should be considered in the context of their unique situation and discussed with their diabetes care team before applying any of it.

We do not have skin in your game.

Origin story and inspiration

The two beauties in the picture are the inspiration for the GNL. If you want more on the origin story, read on.

Watch on YouTube if you prefer.

How I would teach Dani, Grace and Jude

How would I teach Dani, Grace and Jude how to manage type 1 diabetes?

First, I would teach Dynamic Glucose Management, which has beaten every automated insulin delivery (AID) system. No algorithm has come close to 99% time in range.

This is despite eating at least 200 grams of carbs per day, exercising ten hours a week and running around after two energetic children.

Who was my teacher?

Something that updates every five minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It has no emotion, no biases, and it is not held back by outdated theories learnt at university. It provides crystal clear guidance on what works and what doesn’t: my Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM).

Most importantly, CGM provides objective, individualised feedback.

You only need one mantra when being taught by CGM:

The Glucose Never Lies

The main purpose of this blog is to enable my wife, Dani, to master Dynamic Glucose Management. When the time is right, the blog should be simple enough for Grace and Jude to follow and start taking the reins.

Second, in the spirit of science, I need to provide the John Pemberton of 2008 (when, upon diagnosis, I was desperately looking for help) with a source that goes beyond the basics — a source that gets deep into the physiological, biochemical and psychological weeds to explain why things work.

Both Grace and Jude will likely want this deep insight if they inherit my curious and nerdy mind.

I know both Jude and Grace will have high standards. They will be thinking:

“Ok, 99% between 3.5–10.0 mmol/L (70–180 mg/dL), that’s pretty good. What about the time in the optimal glucose range where the healthiest people without diabetes stay most of the time, 3.3–6.7 mmol/L (60–120 mg/dL)?”

Here you go.

Almost 80% with only 0.5% low. AID systems only hit around 50% in this range.

Dynamic Glucose Management works equally well with injections. You do not need to be hooked up to a pump.

However, to ensure luxurious sleep for the whole family and less daily hassle, I think using an AID system is best for 90–95% of people living with type 1 diabetes. But they can maximise time in range of 3.9–10.0 mmol/L (70–180 mg/dL) by using Dynamic Glucose Management during the day, as required.

Expertise and limitations

Are you an expert?

No, but I am pretty close to expert status in two things.

Firstly, John Pemberton’s type 1 diabetes management.

Everyone’s type 1 diabetes is unique due to genetics, physiology, lifestyle, psychology and environment. To think that anyone knows more about a person’s diabetes than the person does is laughable.

Since 2008, I have checked my glucose level on average fifteen times a day. Over 70,000 data points provide immediate feedback on what works and what doesn’t, for me.

In truth, acquiring a good underpinning knowledge of crucial disciplines helped me learn fast. I put the time in at university and have a raft of clinical practice under my belt:

Personal experimentation with type 1 diabetes since 2008, amassing over 70,000 data points and hitting 99% time in range.
Lead author on multiple research papers putting Dynamic Glucose Management into action at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
I am the author of important CGM papers and sit on the IFCC Working Group for CGM.
Working as a Diabetes Specialist Dietitian in the NHS since 2011.
A first-class degree in Sport, Health, Exercise & Nutrition.
A distinction in a Postgraduate Diploma in Dietetics.
Ongoing learning — my favourite source is “The Drive”, Peter Attia’s podcast. You will know how much he has influenced me if you listen to The Glucose Never Lies Podcast.

Secondly, the parenting of Grace and Jude Pemberton.

Nobody, except Dani, knows Grace and Jude like me. I have watched them grow, know all their quirks and have been by their side for all the ups and downs. My love for them is so great, I cannot express it with words.

This makes me uniquely qualified to suggest what will and will not work for them in this blog.

Expert?

I dislike the term expert.

It implies the person believes they know everything, and they stop learning.

“Every fact has a half-life; some are just longer than others.” – Peter Attia.

This means some of what I write will be incorrect and possibly unhelpful. I make no apologies for this. At the time of writing, it will be the best I can do and will be created with love to help Dani, Grace and Jude.

Should you follow these strategies?

Should I follow the type 1 diabetes management strategies discussed in the blog?

If you feel Dynamic Glucose Management or any other strategies will help, it’s your responsibility to do three things:

Check with your health care team before trying anything — I don’t have skin in your game.
Don’t expect things to work the first time.
Apply trial and error with continual tinkering — keep what works and discard the rest.

Where the blog is going

The blog will expand over time to include:

Grace and Jude, I hope you never have to read this blog, but if you do, I hope you will be proud. Enjoy.

How can I get in touch?

The three most important things to me, in rank order, are:

Husband and father with soul in the game.
A key member of my tribes — family, friends and the local community.
Diabetes educator who empowers people with type 1 diabetes.

I work full-time as a Diabetes Dietitian, volunteer for many diabetes events, and write this blog. Any more time invested will remove my soul from the most important game: being a great husband and father.

Subscribing to the blog will provide updates and a direct email to message me if required. Also, subscribing to the podcast via your favourite player will keep you in the loop.

Next step? Start building the Foundations or read the Principles of the blog.