The Glucose Never Lies®
The Glucose Never Lies® Podcast is brought to you by John Pemberton, together with Chad, his innovation partner who helps turn ideas into production. Behind the scenes, the creative team brings research, stories, and lived experiences of type 1 diabetes into an accessible format — combining science, storytelling, and strategy to help people live better with diabetes.
About Me
I’m John Pemberton — dad, husband, diabetes dietitian, researcher, and someone who’s lived with type 1 diabetes since 2008.
This podcast is my way of giving back. When my son Jude tested positive for type 1 diabetes antibodies, everything changed. I knew I had to act quickly and create a resource that was both comprehensive and easy to understand, so that anyone who might one day help manage his diabetes would feel supported. That’s how The Glucose Never Lies started — as an education platform to support my son’s future care.
Fortunately, his confirmatory test came back negative — but this doesn’t rule him, or my daughter, out. And since I was diagnosed at 27, I know just how real that risk can be.
The last two years have been the hardest of my life — battling depression, a functional motor disorder, and finally receiving an ADHD diagnosis. My journey back to health was made possible by the incredible support of my family, friends, and the wider diabetes community.
That experience taught me the power of giving. Written guides don’t work for everyone, but podcasts bring information to life in a real and relatable way. So that’s why I started this podcast — to make diabetes management engaging, practical, and fun.
I’ve been fortunate to work alongside some of the world’s leading researchers and thought leaders in type 1 diabetes, and I bring them onto the show to share their research, their stories, and their innovations.
You’ll also hear from people living with type 1 diabetes who are doing amazing things, and from advocates and clinicians shaping the future of diabetes care.
Here you’ll find guides, reflections, and conversations on everything from partying with T1D, continuous glucose monitoring and automated insulin delivery, to nutrition, exercise, insulin resistance, and childhood diabetes care.
Just to be clear — this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It’s not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare team before making any changes to your management.
I’m glad you’re here. Let’s get started.
The Glucose Never Lies®
5 - Mastering Omnipod 5 – The Iron Man of AID Systems
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 be the perfect choice for you.
Omnipod 5 uses SmartAdjust technology, an adaptive algorithm housed inside the pod itself, which adjusts insulin every five minutes to help maintain stable glucose levels. The system learns from previous insulin needs and automatically fine-tunes basal rates, making it incredibly easy to use. However, as with any powerful technology, understanding how the system works, how to optimise settings, and how to manage common challenges will help you get the best results.
In this episode, we’ll break down the SmartAdjust algorithm, discuss key starting settings, and share tips and tricks to help you maximise your time in range. We’ll also cover how to prevent and treat hypos, navigate high-fat meals like pizza, and adjust for exercise, whether you prefer a quick approach or a more structured plan.
With Omnipod 5, the first step is to survive, and then thrive. Whether you’re new to the system or fine-tuning your experience, this episode will guide you through everything you need to know to get the most out of Omnipod 5 and take your diabetes management to the next level. Let’s get started.
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