Diabetes is costly in terms of money and lives lost.

Two factors not lost on one Scotland County group that wants to raise awareness about the disease.

The Community Diabetes Support program, formed in 2004, will meet today as it does every every third Tuesday to talk diabetes.

"We meet each month in an informal program, during which time I introduce a guest speaker who will give a 30 to 40 minute presentation on a certain aspect of diabetes," said Healthy Carolinians Coordinator Kathie Cox. "We then open the floor for a question and answer period, and we hand out educational materials to anyone who wants them. We have diabetic-friendly snacks on hand as well."

The group meets at the W.R. Dulin Conference Center in Laurinburg, located on the campus of Scotland Memorial Hospital. The event is facilitated by Healthy Carolinians. The program is a collaborative effort between Scotland Memorial Hospital and the Scotland County Health Department.

This month, guest speaker Jennifer Locklear, MD of Harris Family Practice in Laurinburg will present a lecture entitled "Things Every Diabetic Should Know". This information, according to Locklear, is something that everyone who has been diagnosed with the illness should consider.

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in North Carolina, and according to statistics released in 2006, treatment for the disease cost the state a total of $5.3 billion in medicine, in visits to a physician, and in hospitalization for that year alone.

"I will cover some basic facts regarding diabetes that I find a lot of my patients don't realize," Locklear said. "I am surprised sometimes at what people aren't aware of when it comes to lifestyle changes that would prevent or help contain the disease."

There are two major types of diabetes, the insulin-dependent Type 1 and the lifestyle and heredity based Type 2. The latter is much more common in Scotland County, and is in many cases preventable with exercise and a healthy diet.

"I tell my pre-diabetic patients, those with a tendency to get Type 2 diabetes if they don't make lifestyle changes, that dietary modification to control or prevent the disease is the most important thing they can do," Locklear said. "I also recognize that these changes are very difficult to make for many people, but if we could overcome that hurdle many people would potentially be much healthier."

Cox encourages anyone connected with diabetes to attend the Tuesday meetings.

"If you have diabetes, or you are pre-diabetic, or if you are a caretaker for someone with the disease, please attend at least one support program and bring a friend or a neighbor."

The event will take place this evening from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the W.R. Dulin Conference Center in Laurinburg. Past speakers have covered illness-related topics such as diabetes and stress, diabetes and oral health, and blood glucose management.

For information call 291-7316 or 277-2440 ext. 4478.