Those of us who don't have a metabolism like Sea biscuit might fall for the too good to be true ads every time. This time the object of my curiosity is Diamaxol. The product was formerly called Diabeticine, but the FDA didn't like the hint of medicine in the name, so the manufacturers changed it.

The product supposedly reduces blood sugar levels, eliminates (strong word) insulin resistance, and normalizes insulin production. A partial list of Diamaxol ingredients include: Banaba, Guggle (Guggul), Bitter Melon, Licorice extract, Cinnamon herb powder, Gymnema Sylvestre, Yarrow, Cayenne, Juniper Berries, Huckleberry, and Vanadyl Sulfate How exactly does Diamaxol claim to work it's magic? It's not magic - it's simply science. The magic behind the formula is actually the miraculous human body doing its job. Diamaxol is more like the stage crew for David Copperfield, rather than the show itself.

Diamaxol interferes with glucose absorption and prevents the stimulation of glucose from the liver. This effectively reduces blood sugar levels. It also eliminates insulin resistance by repairing cell receptors to better handle insulin. Scientists agree, insulin resistance is one of the leading causes of type 2 diabetes. The normalization of insulin production is restored (in type 2) and replaced (in type 1) by an organic compound. Curiously enough, banaba is at the top of the list of ingredients. Banaba contains corosolic acid, which activates the transport of glucose across cell membranes, resulting in blood sugar reductions. It has been used in the Philippines for years to treat diabetes. Because the FDA has approved Diamaxol as a supplement, at least we know that it can't hurt. Sounds interesting, perhaps worth looking into - but is it worth the $75 to $100 a bottle?

Billboard.com has announced the death of Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Syd Barrett from complications of diabetes. According to Billboard, Barrett left Pink Floyd over thirty years ago due to mental health issues, and lived the remainder of his life in seclusion with his mother in Cambridge, England.

Known for psychedelic rock, Pink Floyd, with Barrett and members Roger Waters, Rick Wright, and Nick Mason, gained an international cult-like following due to its innovative beyond the boundaries rock.

By some accounts, Barrett's LSD drug use created mental problems for him and he eventually retired from the band to live in his hometown of Cambridge. Pink Floyd band members dedicated two songs to Barrett, who was seen as influential in all that Pink Floyd symbolized and position it held in the rock world, with Shine on You Crazy Diamond and Wish You Were Here.

At the Live 8 benefit, Gilmour, Waters, Wright and Mason performed Wish You Were Here in Barrett's honor. Barrett was 60.