The Glucose Never Lies®
Welcome to The Glucose Never Lies® Podcast where science meets real-life experience to empower diabetes management.
I’m John Pemberton. I’ve lived with type 1 diabetes since 2008 and have spent nearly 20 years mastering both the science and art of managing it. Through personal experimentation, published research, and my work as a diabetes specialist dietitian, I’ve gained deep insights into what truly makes a difference.
When my son Jude tested positive for type 1 antibodies, I realised that all the knowledge in my head is wasted if I couldn’t communicate it in a way that was clear, actionable, and easy to come back to. So I built The Glucose Never Lies® Education Programme—a free resource designed to teach diabetes management exactly as I’d want people to understand it if they were looking after my son.
After battling a functional motor disorder for many years and recently experiencing a major depressive episode, I was eventually pulled out of that hole by friends, family, and professionals who helped me get back to being me. That experience taught me the power of giving—and this podcast is my way of giving back.
My cohost, Louise Collins, is a highly experienced diabetes nurse with over 20 years in the field. She brings a wealth of knowledge and her superpower is making complex diabetes science accessible and practical for everyday life. She is the best diabetes nurse I have ever worked with, and there have been some good ones! Most importantly, she keeps me in check and on point!
So, if you’re living with diabetes or supporting someone who is, we want to make things easier, clearer, and—importantly—more enjoyable.
We hope you enjoy the content. If you do, please share it with those who may like it too.
Disclaimer: The information shared on The Glucose Never Lies® Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. While we discuss strategies and insights for diabetes management, this podcast is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare team before making any changes to your diabetes care plan.
The Glucose Never Lies®
Episode 10: CGM Accuracy (Part 1) "Study Design First, Performance After"
In this episode of the Glucose Never Lies podcast, hosts John Pemberton and Louise delve into the intricacies of diabetes management, focusing on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems. They discuss the importance of understanding CGM accuracy, the significance of study design in evaluating sensor performance, and the key questions to ask when assessing the reliability of these devices. The conversation emphasises the need for robust testing conditions to ensure that CGMs provide accurate readings for insulin dosing decisions. The hosts also highlight the ongoing efforts towards standardisation in CGM technology to improve diabetes care.
Takeaways
- Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are crucial for insulin dosing decisions.
- Understanding study design is essential for evaluating CGM accuracy.
- Not all CGMs are created equal; performance varies significantly.
- Key questions to assess CGM accuracy include the study population and testing conditions.
- Robust testing conditions are necessary for reliable sensor performance.
- The importance of peer-reviewed data in evaluating CGM accuracy.
- Standardization in CGM technology is on the horizon.
- Healthcare professionals should be knowledgeable about CGM performance.
- A downloadable chart will be available to help users assess CGM options.
Chapters
00:00
Introduction to Diabetes Management
02:14
Understanding Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)
05:11
Accuracy of Continuous Glucose Monitors
10:13
Evaluating Sensor Performance
15:45
Key Questions for Sensor Accuracy
20:31
Moving Towards Standardization in CGM
25:03
Summary and Next Steps
Key Resources
CGM Series: Understanding Risk Before Performance
Chart for CGM Devices (From May 2025): DSN Forum
Tim Street @ Diabettech
