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®
16: Diabetes & Driving: Why You Need to Be 5 to Drive
Episode 16 — Diabetes & Driving: Why You Need to Be 5 to Drive
Show summary PDF and full notes here
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 legal responsibilities.
We cover:- The legal differences between Group 1 (cars, motorcycles ≤3.5 t, ≤8 passengers) and Group 2 (HGV, minibuses, passenger vehicles >3.5 t or >8 passengers).
- Why the law requires you to be ≥5 mmol/L before driving (“5 to drive”).
- The 45-minute rule: after treating a hypo, you must wait 45 minutes once you are back above 5 mmol/L.
- When CGM readings are accepted (Group 1) versus when only finger-prick testing counts (Group 2, currently).
- The importance of self-declaring severe hypoglycaemia: two daytime events in 12 months means you must report it.
- Practical tips: keeping your meter’s date/time accurate, carrying a backup meter, and setting CGM low alerts at 5 for long journeys.
Key Takeaways- 5 to drive: ≥5.0 mmol/L
- 4.0–4.9 mmol/L: snack, then drive
- <4.0 mmol/L: treat → confirm >5.0 → wait 45 minutes once above 5
- Check every ≤2 hours — each check “expires” like a parking ticket
- Group 1 drivers: CGM or finger-prick both accepted
- Group 2 drivers: finger-prick only (until law changes)
- Severe hypos: two daytime events in 12 months → you must self-declare
- Responsibility lies with the driver, not your clinician
Resources and Further Reading
Visit The Glucose Never Lies — Episode 16 to access:
- DVLA INF294 — Insulin-treated diabetes and driving (official guidance)
- NHS England guidance on approved blood glucose meters
- DSN Forum CGM Accuracy Comparison Chart
- CGM Guides — The Glucose Never Lies
- Automated Insulin Delivery Guides — The Glucose Never Lies
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