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.
Combining my work as a specialist diabetes dietitian, educator, and researcher with over a decade of life with type 1 diabetes, I’ve created education that cuts through complexity and makes a real difference for thousands of people living with the condition.
The Glucose Never Lies® was built on a rare blend of clinical expertise and lived experience.
Two months after the preliminary positive result, Jude tested negative for type 1 diabetes auto-antibodies on the blood draw.
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 from dads with type 1 diabetes are 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 providing 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.
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.
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 newsletter 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
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.
Where to start?
With whatever floats your boat! But if new the type 1 diabetes, I recommend this order.
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 have some background in physiology, nutrition or psychology. This part can be skipped by those not interested in nerdy details.
To be crystal clear, when there is specific instructions, it’s meant as guidance only!
For any reader, this information should be considered in the context of their unique situations and discussed with their diabetes care team before they apply any of it.
We do not have skin in your game!
The two beauties in the picture are the inspiration for the GNL. If you want more on the origins story, read on.
Watch on YouTube if you prefer.
How would I teach Dani, Grace, and Jude how to manage type 1 diabetes?
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, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year. It has no emotion, no biases, it’s 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 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), a source that goes beyond the basics. A source getting 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 get 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 (70-180mg/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, 3.3-6.7mmol/L (60-120mg/dL)?”
Here you go.
Almost 80% with only 0.5% low. AID systems only hit 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 (70-180mg/dL) by using Dynamic Glucose Management during the day, as required.
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
Working as a Diabetes Specialist Dietitian in the NHS since 2011.
A 1st class degree in Sport, Health, Exercise & Nutrition.
A distinction in Post-grad 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 the writing, it will be the best I can do and will be created with love to help Dani, Grace, and Jude.
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.
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.
Great pods casts, I’ve not finished them yet. I’ve been T1 for 45 yrs, everyday is still a learning day.
Currently I’m using Libre 2 plus & Omnipod 5, with humalog. after some inital bedding in problems I’m now achieving 90 day averages of 87% TIR with far fewer manual corrections than before.
A question, in the blog you suggest turning the insulin time down to 2hrs, this leaves me with a an incorrect IOB figure (which I use regularly) any suggestions?
Setting the active insulin at 2 hrs is helpful to allow more user given corrections. It should really be called an aggressiveness setting not active insulin!
But
It means if you prefer to know how much is working in your body you would need it set close to 3-4 hours but you will get less aggressive user corrections!
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