The Glucose Never Lies® Podcast

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Professor Eleanor Scott, one of the UK's leading experts in pregnancy and diabetes, provides the evidence-based roadmap that cuts through the noise. 
Full Show notes: https://theglucoseneverlies.com/pregnancy-t1d/
This episode covers the complete journey: pre-conception planning (why HbA1c <48 mmol/mol and 70% time in pregnancy range matters), the chaos of first trimester insulin sensitivity and hypos, the dramatic insulin resistance of trimesters two and three (where insulin needs can increase 3-5× baseline), and the instant drop in insulin requirements after delivery.

Professor Scott explains why the pregnancy glucose target is tighter (3.5-7.8 mmol/L / 63-140 mg/dL) — babies are extremely sensitive to raised glucose, which increases risks of miscarriage, congenital malformations, preterm delivery, and large babies requiring neonatal intensive care. She also offers reassurance: if pregnancy is unplanned or glucose control isn't optimal at conception, early intervention still makes a substantial difference. Absolute risk of complications remains around 10% even with high HbA1c at conception — not inevitable.

The technology discussion is critical: CGM is non-negotiable  But not all hybrid closed-loop systems are equal. CamAPS FX is the only system with robust RCT evidence (ADAPT trial) showing improved time in range, reduced gestational weight gain, smaller babies, and less maternal burden. It was developed specifically for pregnancy with adaptive algorithms and a personal glucose target as low as 4.4 mmol/L. The Medtronic 780G has a CE mark for pregnancy but didn't improve time in range in trials. Other systems aren't studied or indicated for pregnancy.

Practical strategies include pre-bolusing 15-20 minutes, choosing mixed meals over high-GI foods, walking after eating, moderate carbohydrate intake (30-40%), and building routine to help algorithms (and your brain) adapt to rapid changes.

For show notes, resources, and full transcript: https://theglucoseneverlies.com/pregnancy-t1d/
Disclaimer
This podcast is for education and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice and is not a substitute for individualised care.
The Glucose Never Lies® is independent by design
We do not accept sponsorships and advertising. We operate via education grants and donations from listeners who value independence. So, consider:
Buying the GNL a Coffee:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jspfree2
Enquiries
Collaboration: John Pemberton — [email protected]
Creatives: Anjanee Kohli — [email protected]
Follow The Glucose Never Lies®
Website: https://theglucoseneverlies.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theglucoseneverlies
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theglucoseneverlies
LinkedIn: John Pemberton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-pemberton-587104361/
X: https://twitter.com/GlucoseNLies
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
© The Glucose Never Lies Ltd. All rights reserved....

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In this episode of Glucose Never Lies, John Pemberton welcomes Dr. Inge Van Boxelaer, endocrinologist and founder of Diabetotech, an independent education platform for diabetes technology. Together, they explore the critical role of education in maximizing the benefits of devices like continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), insulin pumps, and automated insulin delivery (AID) systems.
Dr. Van Boxelaer shares her journey from clinical practice to creating Diabetotech, highlighting how access to technology isn’t enough—patients and healthcare professionals need structured, unbiased, and up-to-date training. The conversation covers how Diabetotech delivers short, modular courses, device comparisons, and CPD-accredited content, helping clinicians, educators, and people living with diabetes gain confidence and improve outcomes.
Full Show notes: https://theglucoseneverlies.com/30-diabetotech-education/
Key topics include:
Overcoming educational barriers to adopting new diabetes technologies
The evolution of AID systems and CGMs, and their impact on daily management
How flipped learning and modular education can save clinician time while improving patient competency
Independent, consistent, and regularly updated resources for clinicians, patients, and care teams
Whether you’re a healthcare professional, a person living with diabetes, or part of a care team, this episode highlights why understanding the technology is as important as having it. Dr. Van Boxelaer also shares her vision for the future of diabetes education and how accessible learning can support better outcomes and fewer complications.
Explore Diabetotech and its resources at https://www.diabetotech.com/
Disclaimer
This podcast is for education and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice and is not a substitute for individualised care.
The Glucose Never Lies® is independent by design
We do not accept sponsorships and advertising. We operate via education grants and donations from listeners who value independence. So, consider:
Buying the GNL a Coffee:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jspfree2
Enquiries
Collaboration: John Pemberton — [email protected]
Creatives: Anjanee Kohli — [email protected]
Follow The Glucose Never Lies®
Website: https://theglucoseneverlies.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theglucoseneverlies
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theglucoseneverlies
LinkedIn: John Pemberton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-pemberton-587104361/
X: https://twitter.com/GlucoseNLies
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
© The Glucose Never Lies Ltd. All rights reserved....

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Five principles that make change more likely to stick
John Pemberton is joined by Vanessa Haydock (The Diabetic Health Coach). Background in psychology and applied behaviour analysis, certified behaviour analyst, personal trainer, and coach supporting people with type 1 diabetes through sustainable behaviour change.
Full notes: https://theglucoseneverlies.com/beahviour-change-t1d/
This conversation lays out a practical behaviour change playbook grounded in psychology, lived experience, and the realities of diabetes physiology.
00:00 — Why this conversation matters — why willpower alone fails.
02:45 — Vanessa’s story: diagnosis, denial, and turning point
Growing up with type 1 diabetes, rebellion, burnout, retinopathy as an emotional trigger, and how behaviour change (not perfection) transformed Vanessa’s relationship with diabetes.
16:45 — Principle 1: Design beats discipline
Why willpower is finite in type 1 diabetes, and how reducing decision load through systems, defaults, and realistic goals makes change more sustainable.
30:35 — Principle 2: Cues beat grit
How environment and prompts outperform memory — from insulin timing to daily routines — and why piggybacking on existing habits works.
39:20 — Principle 3: Reduce threat before effort
How fear, pressure, and perceived failure drive avoidance behaviours — and why lowering the threat level is essential before increasing effort.
45:10 — Principle 4: Hawk or Owl, Carrot or Stick
Choosing the right style of accountability and feedback — frequent vs spaced, direct vs gentle — and why mismatch derails progress.
51:15 — Principle 5: Community support, not shame
Why small, safe communities outperform noisy online spaces, and how shared reality reduces isolation and burnout.
59:40 — Pulling it together: a practical playbook for 2026
How to apply the five principles deliberately, without perfectionism or guilt.
Find Vanessa at:
Website: https://diabetichealthcoach.co.uk/
Instagram: https://www.
Disclaimer
This podcast is for education and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice and is not a substitute for individualised care.
The Glucose Never Lies® is independent by design
We do not accept sponsorships and advertising. We operate via education grants and donations from listeners who value independence. So, consider:
Buying the GNL a Coffee:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jspfree2
Enquiries
Collaboration: John Pemberton — [email protected]
Creatives: Anjanee Kohli — [email protected]
Follow The Glucose Never Lies®
Website: https://theglucoseneverlies.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theglucoseneverlies
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theglucoseneverlies
LinkedIn: John Pemberton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-pemberton-587104361/
X: https://twitter.com/GlucoseNLies
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
© The Glucose Never Lies Ltd. All rights reserved....

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Host: John Pemberton, RD
Guest: Anjanee Kohli, RD MNutr
2025 was a formative year for The Glucose Never Lies Podcast. Not because everything went smoothly — but because repeated exposure to real-world problems forced clearer models, sharper questions, and fewer illusions.
In this year-in-review episode, John Pemberton is joined by Anjanee Kohli — diabetes specialist dietitian, creative lead, and co-director at Glucose Never Lies — for an honest audit of what the podcast set out to do, what it actually delivered, where their thinking evolved, and where uncertainty remains.
Together, they revisit the core themes that kept resurfacing across episodes in 2025: insulin timing and dose over tactics, the liver’s central role, exercise variability, device and algorithm trade-offs, accessibility, and the gap between theoretical optimisation and lived experience with type 1 diabetes.
This conversation is not a highlights reel. It’s a reflective pause — stripping ideas back to what survived contact with reality, and clarifying what Glucose Never Lies is deliberately carrying forward into 2026.
Read the full episode page, explore linked episodes, resources, and references:
 https://theglucoseneverlies.com/episode-28-2025-in-review/

What this episode covers
Why 2025 required a shift from tactics to principles
What repeated real-world patterns taught us about insulin, exercise, and devices
Where technology helps — and where trade-offs remain unavoidable
Episodes and resources worth revisiting depending on your current challenge
What changed our minds, and what we’re still uncertain about
What Glucose Never Lies is committing to — and leaving behind — in 2026
Disclaimer
This podcast is for education and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice and is not a substitute for individualised care.
The Glucose Never Lies® is independent by design
We do not accept sponsorships and advertising. We operate via education grants and donations from listeners who value independence. So, consider:
Buying the GNL a Coffee:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jspfree2
Enquiries
Collaboration: John Pemberton — [email protected]
Creatives: Anjanee Kohli — [email protected]
Follow The Glucose Never Lies®
Website: https://theglucoseneverlies.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theglucoseneverlies
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theglucoseneverlies
LinkedIn: John Pemberton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-pemberton-587104361/
X: https://twitter.com/GlucoseNLies
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
© The Glucose Never Lies Ltd. All rights reserved....

Suggest guests or get in contact
Host: John Pemberton, RD
Guests: Roger Moore & Robin Lucciantonio
Roger has lived with type 1 diabetes since age two and has been totally blind for more than 35 years. While automated insulin delivery (AID) has transformed safety and glucose stability for many people with type 1 diabetes, most systems remain inaccessible without sight.
In this Inspiring Stories episode of The Glucose Never Lies Podcast, John Pemberton speaks with Roger Moore and diabetes educator Robin Lucciantonio about how they refused to accept that limitation. Using the open-source Loop system with iPhone VoiceOver, a careful stepwise rollout (simulator → saline → insulin), and a handcrafted tactile pod-filling station, Roger achieved full autonomy with AID.
This conversation isn’t about technology alone. It’s about accessibility as a safety requirement, not a convenience feature — and what becomes possible when clinicians stay open-minded and systems are built around real people rather than default users.
Read the full episode page and see the setup:
https://theglucoseneverlies.com/looping-blind/

What this episode covers
Living with type 1 diabetes without visual feedback
Why most commercial AID systems are inaccessible without sight
Using Loop and VoiceOver for non-visual insulin delivery
Simulator and saline trials to reduce risk before going live
Designing a tactile pod-filling station for safe, repeatable insulin delivery
Outcomes that matter: reduced hypoglycaemia, autonomy, and dignity
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. It does not create a therapeutic relationship. DIY automated insulin delivery systems carry real risks and require appropriate training, oversight, and contingency planning.
Disclaimer
This podcast is for education and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice and is not a substitute for individualised care.
The Glucose Never Lies® is independent by design
We do not accept sponsorships and advertising. We operate via education grants and donations from listeners who value independence. So, consider:
Buying the GNL a Coffee:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jspfree2
Enquiries
Collaboration: John Pemberton — [email protected]
Creatives: Anjanee Kohli — [email protected]
Follow The Glucose Never Lies®
Website: https://theglucoseneverlies.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theglucoseneverlies
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theglucoseneverlies
LinkedIn: John Pemberton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-pemberton-587104361/
X: https://twitter.com/GlucoseNLies
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
© The Glucose Never Lies Ltd. All rights reserved....