GREATER SPRINGFIELD – If you have diabetes and are looking for better control over your A1c numbers and health, Chet Galaska, local author of “The Diabetes Book: What Everyone Should Know,” has a free program starting next week that can help.

Beginning on April 25 at 6 p.m. at the Scantic Valley YMCA, 45 Post Office Park, Wilbraham, and April 26 at 6 p.m. at the Mason Square Library, 765 State St., Springfield, Galaska, in partnership with the Springfield YMCA and for this session, Springfield College, will introduce his successful Challenge Diabetes Program to attendees. Participants need not pre-register to attend the programs, and walk-ins are welcome.

Diagnosed himself with Type 1 diabetes at age 30, the 67-year old Galaska launched his pilot Challenged Diabetes Program in 2016 at the Springfield Y to help local Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes sufferers better understand their illness and manage their health.

Galaska said the goal of “Challenge Diabetes is to “reach, teach and motivate diabetics” and help them cope with a disease that “is far more difficult than most people imagine.”  

The upcoming, non-medical program consists of three one-hour sessions – Scantic Valley’s on consecutive Wednesdays, Mason Square on consecutive Thursdays – taught by fellow diabetics who understand the challenges of living with the illness. It will not only offer attendees information on how a healthy diet and exercise can help with better blood sugar control, it will also give attendees a chance to talk with others who share the same health challenges.  

Those who attend all three sessions will receive a “Challenge Accepted” wristband to remind them that diabetes is 24/7/365, and a free pedometer to help them keep track of their exercise progress.

Participants will also receive a free finger-stick A1c measurement – which provides a snapshot of blood sugar control for the past three months – at the initial session, and again three months after completing the three-session Challenge Diabetes Program.

For this round of the Challenge Diabetes Program, Springfield College is partnering with Galaska to collect the A1C data in the hopes he will be able to use it to get funding to expand the program’s reach. Though he and former participants know the program works, the proof, to date, has been anecdotal.

“For [Chet] to have a sustainable program, he needs to have external funding and in order to do that, he has to have data to show the program works,” said Dr. Sue Guyer, chair of exercise science and sports study at Springfield College. “We want to collect [the numbers] for him so he has hard data when he goes for grants.”

In addition, the college will be asking participants to complete a self efficacy survey on controlling diabetes based on Galaska’s program at the initial session and at the three-month mark.

Guyer said Springfield College would also be assisting Galaska by providing the free pedometers program participants will receive after completing all three sessions at either Mason Square or the Scantic Valley Y.

“His goal right now – I love his goal – is to keep [the program] local. We know Springfield has the highest rate of Type 2 diabetes in Massachusetts,” Guyer said. “He wants to keep it home and help our neighbors who are struggling with diabetes, which I think is a wonderful idea.”

For more information on the Challenge Diabetes Program, visit www.challengediabetes.us, email the coordinator at coordinator@challengediabetes.us or call 567-0660.