SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., –McClain Beck and his mother Tracy Beck will be the guest speakers at the next Diabetes Support Group meeting sponsored by Regional West Physicians Clinic-Diabetes Care Center, on June 24. McClain is a teenager from Oshkosh, Nebr. who lives with diabetes. He recently won a diabetes service dog, named Zeus, through the “Dreams Come True” contest.

Zeus is able to smell blood sugar changes?sometimes up to half an hour before a blood test could detect changes?and naturally responds to his master’s blood sugar changes by becoming agitated and pawing at his master. Zeus will accompany Beck to the June 24 meeting.

For those interested in staying after the presentation, the group will discuss development of a new support group for teens and young adults only. It would provide an opportunity for younger Type 1 or Type 2 diabetics (ages 12-21) to get together and share their experiences. Topics of discussion could include: coping with diabetes, living realistically with diabetes, gaining support from others, stress management, problem solving, and diabetes education.

The staff at the Diabetes Care Center invite all ages with Type 1, Type 2, pre-diabetes and those interested in learning more about diabetes to attend the upcoming presentation and, if interested, to discuss the feasibility of developing the new support group.

The Diabetes Support Group meeting will be held Tuesday, June 24 at 6 p.m., at Regional West Medical Plaza South, Room 1202, 3911 Avenue B, Scottsbluff.

The Teen and Young Adult Diabetes Support Group meeting dates will be announced at the meeting June 24.

For more information, call the Regional West Physicians Clinic-Diabetes Care Clinic at 308-630-2100.

Regional West Health Services, Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company for Regional West Medical Center and Regional West Physicians Clinic. These organizations, with over 1,800 employees, provide comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people and communities of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming. With over 110 active physicians, plus an additional 25 consulting specialists, the Regional West family of health care organizations offers care that spans more than 30 medical specialties.