The Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism in conjunction with team from Lifestyle Medicine and the Lions Club of Vellore Fort conducted a health check up and awareness programme for the students, parents and staff of the Sneha Deepam School- Alamelumangapuram. This was a part of the School Programme for Awareness of Diabetes Education and Screening (SPADES-II). SPADES-1 was conducted and covered more than 1500 students from 2008 - 2010, and it was found that there was large prevalence of pre-diabetes in school children in Vellore (nearly 20%). SPADES-2 over the years 2011-2012 will study the physical and attitudinal patterns in these children and also the relationship of the metabolic parameters with those of their parents.

A total of 212 students, parents and teaching staff were screened and blood tests includes fasting and postprandial glucose and fasting lipid profile were performed for all clients. A basic health check up including blood pressure was performed along with a body fat estimation with measurement of skin fold thickness and bioimpedence analysis. Health education was carried out by diabetes nurse educators from the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. The Department of Endocrinology would like to thank the staff and students of Sneha Deepam school for their cooperation and enthusiasm.