Merrill's Interview with Radio 2

Merrill's Radio Interview
with Richard Allinson

Richard	A few months back, we spoke to Donny Osmond, who was over here at the Awards, and he said that the family's music career is still going strong. You Do remember Alan and Jay and Wayne and Donny and Merrill, the Osmond Brothers. 80 million records and about 40 years later, I suspect, Merrill Osmond still tours every year with the Osmond Brothers. He continues to write songs, and publish, and produce. But, 10 years ago, Merrill discovered he had Diabetes and he had to rethink his whole lifestyle, and he joins us from Utah. So, I suppose it's good morning, Merrill!
*Merrill*	Good morning, my friend, how are you doing?
Richard	Very well, how are you?
*Merrill*	Good!
Richard	Can we take you back ten years?
*Merrill*	Yeah, let's go!
Richard	What was your initial reaction when you first found out you had Diabetes?
*Merrill*	Well, Richard, I don't think I really expected it. In fact, I was very dizzy. I remember, when I was performing with the guys, and I'd get backstage and I'd complain about being dizzy and didn't do much about it. It was about two months later that I found out - I was checked into Duke University for a shutdown and they went through my whole body and found out that I had a few problems, but the main one was that I had Type II Diabetes, and it freaked me out, because my wife's father died with it, my brother Virl had it, but I never thought in a million years that I would inherit that.
Richard	So you discovered it because you were really feeling pretty lousy?
*Merrill*	Yeah, I was feeling terrible. The real symptom was blackouts. I just couldn't believe I was going through that kind of stuff.
Richard	So what changes did you have to make to your lifestyle after discovering you had Diabetes. Because, famously, you were the pop group that were the best behaved pop group ever! You didn't do any of that traditional rock 'n' roll stuff, did you?!
*Merrill*	Well, thank you, my friend!! We - firstly, I had to change my life, I had to, I was faced with the concept of taking insulin, and that's the last thing I wanted To do, is to have to take shots every day. So, I had to lose a lot of weight, which I did, I dropped about 40lbs. I never did a lot of exercise. My exercise was always either on stage doing karate, or doing something like that. I had to realise - I had to go for my walks and my jogs, and I started to drink a lot of water and I just was able to maintain a lifestyle - I changed the way I was eating. I just had to change everything.
Richard	So, you're not taking insulin?
*Merrill*	No, I'm taking Glucophage and, on occasion, I'll take some Glucotrol
Richard	Right, and you still tour every year with the Brothers, don't you?
*Merrill*	Still tour like crazy!
Richard	So, what's it like managing Diabetes, and you have to stay in hotels, you have to eat in restaurants, not knowing exactly what's gone into the food you're eating?
*Merrill*	Well, I tell you one thing - I do pay attention these days. Obviously, I know how devastating this disease can be if you don't watch it. So, everywhere I go, I just, I go to my room, I get the room service menu out, and I'm very picky. I don't eat out much, I don't eat any kind of hamburger or whatever. I try to eat inside the room, and then do my think, and stay very positive.
Richard	You say you dropped forty pounds, which is pretty drastic, cos you weren't that big, were you?
*Merrill*	I wasn't huge, but I sure could afford to lose it and I did. I dropped about forty pounds.
Richard	So, how did you do that? Was that diet, or more exercise?
*Merrill*	You know, when you stop taking sugar… I used to love candy bars and chocolate pie - my favourite was German Chocolate cake - but when you stop taking all the sugar, and you start doing a little bit of exercise, eating the proper kinds of foods - that's really what it was, just eating properly. It just dropped off real fast for me.
Richard	So, you're managing pretty well?
*Merrill*	Yes, I'm right on - my levels are about 110-120 constantly now.
Richard	Fingers crossed it stays that way! We mentioned Donny, who was over a here a couple of months back, and he mentioned the possibility of a British tour with the Brothers - are you still altogether, are you still playing?
*Merrill*	I was with Donny two days ago, and we discussed a lot of different possibilities, I really think, Richard, that's going to be the next step, is if we can get all the Brothers on one stage back in England. It would be the way to go. We'd like to see that happen.
Richard	And have you still got the white suits?!
*Merrill*	(laughs!) No!
Richard	Curses! We wanted to see those white suits!!
*Merrill*	But we do have a lot of purple socks left over, if anyone wants any!!!!!
Richard	(laughs!) Alright! Merrill, good to talk to you - thanks for joining us today.
*Merrill*	Thank you so much!
Richard	Congratulations - take it easy!
*Merrill*	See you buddy, goodbye!

Check out more links regarding Merrill's living with Diabetes
	Merrill Osmond shares his personal story on living with Diabetes
	Interview with Daily Express UK on Diabetes

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Thanks to Gerry Ferry for transcribing the above interview.

Merrill's Radio Interview with Richard Allinson

Merrill's Radio Interview
with Richard Allinson