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CNN Live Today

Interview with Phylicia Rashad, Actress

Aired May 14, 2002 - 10:27   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: On to health news now. A just-released medical study documents a potentially fatal side effect from a popular diabetes drug in people with certain risk factors. The drug that is known as Metformin, also marketed as Glucophage, can cause a sharp spike of lactic acid in the blood, and this could be fatal.

The drug's maker, Bristol-Myers, says this warning is clearly labeled. The study was published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association," their first issue, by the way, to be devoted to diabetes.

And we are spending some time on diabetes today, a very important issue for actress Phylicia Rashad. Of course, we know her best from "The Cosby Show." She understands firsthand the lethal connection between diabetes and heart disease, and she is on a nationwide tour to raise awareness of this link, especially among African-Americans. And Ms. Rashad joins us from New York this morning -- good morning. It is such an honor to have you with us today.

PHYLICIA RASHAD, ACTRESS: Good morning -- thank you very much.

KAGAN: First talking about this medical issue that touches your heart and definitely has affected your family, and that is this is the link between diabetes and heart disease.

RASHAD: Yes, specifically heart attacks. My father...

KAGAN: And it took your own father's life.

RASHAD: Yes. My father died of a heart attack, and when I read his death certificate, it read, cause of death, heart attack, and specifically cardiac arrest caused by hypertension due to diabetes mellitus.

KAGAN: Now, you knew he was diabetic?

RASHAD: Yes. I knew that he was diabetic. I knew that he was diabetic. Diabetes, there are occurrences in our family, my father, his parents, a few of his siblings. But I had never made a connection between cardiac arrest and diabetes. And now, I understand that a number of people who have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes don't understand this connection. They don't understand that there is a risk for cardiovascular disease, for kidney problems. And that is what this campaign pain is about. KAGAN: So awareness is so important. One, just knowing that the other part of this is that these are things that you can actually do something about, not only just being aware of. There are certain things that you can do to improve your own health.

RASHAD: Oh, yes. There absolutely are. And this is why I am encouraging people who have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes to speak to their health care professionals and diabetes educators to find out the things that they can do and ways that they can live that promote good health and longevity. And one of the ways is through your diet. And on our Web site...

KAGAN: Which is?

RASHAD: You don't have that information?

KAGAN: Well, we will find it.

RASHAD: Well, no, I have it right here.

KAGAN: OK.

RASHAD: I'll read it to you.

KAGAN: OK.

RASHAD: It's www.takediabetestoheart.com.

KAGAN: OK. That's easy to remember.

RASHAD: Yes. And there is a 1-800 number, 307-7113.

KAGAN: So on this Web site, there are tips.

RASHAD: Yes.

KAGAN: Right.

RASHAD: There is information, and there is advice on how to talk to health care professionals. And there is also this cookbook that's being offered with very delicious -- I've been looking at these recipes.

KAGAN: Yes. Getting a little hungry here this morning, are you?

RASHAD: Yes. I must confess this stuff is looking pretty good.

KAGAN: Well, speaking of recipes, let's transport ourselves to a place that many of us were familiar with as we were growing up, and that was the Huxtable kitchen.

RASHAD: Oh...

KAGAN: Many, many a good memory happened and a great many comedy scenes happened in that kitchen. And this is not just an opportunity to talk to you about that important health issue, but the upcoming "Cosby" reunion special that's coming up as well.

RASHAD: Yes. It will air this Sunday.

KAGAN: On May 19. And is it going to be a story? Is it going to be a visit with former cast members? How is it going to work?

RASHAD: Well, it's very interesting. There are a series of interviews with the cast members that were done individually. They were conducted individually. And it's interesting for me to listen to the young actors and their impressions and their memories. And it was wonderful to see them all again. We were all together again for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and that was quite an experience.

KAGAN: I bet. I have seen some clips of all of "The Cosby Family Reunited," and everyone is all grown up. I mean, even little Ravyn Simone is a grown-up lady now.

RASHAD: They are all grown up, and they are fierce. They are such -- they are fierce. They are such an intelligent and articulate group of young people. They were always intelligent, and it's just magnificent to see them as adults, my goodness.

KAGAN: Well, can we just say, I mean, I know you were the TV mom. I mean, you didn't actually raise these kids.

RASHAD: No, I didn't.

KAGAN: But there must be a sense of pride in looking at how these young people grew up, and that, you know, show after show, there are many programs that are done on look at what happened to these kids who were TV stars. And yet, so many of the Huxtable kids, as we can call them, went onto to go to college, have successful careers, and appear to be excellent adults contributing to their community. They just must be a great sense of pride to have been part of that family.

RASHAD: Their parents are exceptional people, and I can say that with full knowledge of who their parents are. Their parents were always present. They were always participating. They were very, very serious about parenting, and they wanted their children to grow in ways that were correct.

KAGAN: Well, how...

RASHAD: And they saw to it.

KAGAN: And they did. And how appropriate that we talk about those parents and that we started by talking about your own parent, your dad, who I am sure would be so proud that you're taking up the cause of diabetes and heart health awareness. Phylicia Rashad, thank you for joining us this morning.

RASHAD: Thank you.

KAGAN: We really appreciate it, and we look forward to that "Cosby" reunion on May 19. Kind of like a homecoming for all of us who grew up watching that show. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com