With funding from the Westfield Lions Club, Springfield YMCA ‘Challenge Diabetes Program’ Coordinator, Chet Galaska, will conduct three sessions at the Westfield Senior Center, 45 Noble Street, in June. The first session will be held on Wednesday, June 5 at 1 p.m. and is open to the public with no pre-registration necessary. Topics will include a physiological description of diabetes, what can be done about it, why people become diabetic, and the reasons that diabetics should not be blamed for having the disease. The next two sessions will be held on Thursdays, June 13 and 20 at 9:30 a.m. and are the basis of the ‘Challenge Diabetes Program.’ These sessions will deal with the reasons diet and physical activity affect blood glucose levels with practical suggestions for making changes “around the edges.” These two sessions are individualized and will provide the participants with the knowledge of how to lower their A1c. The program’s goal is to provide an efficient way to reach, teach, and motivate diabetics who would otherwise ignore the disease and suffer complications. Instructor Chet Galaska is author of ‘The Diabetes Book, What Everyone Should Know.’ Chet is a diabetic himself and knows firsthand the difficulties and frustrations of fighting it. Each class includes time for questions, answers and peer support. Advance registration is necessary for the second two classes to be held on Thursdays, June 13 and 20 because space is limited. For more information or to sign up for the second two classes, please call the Senior Center at 562-6435.