Analysis and Correlation of Dermatoglyphic patterns with Diabetes

Dermatoglyphics (derma, "skin", and glyph, "carving") is the chief scientific study of fingerprints, lines, mounts and shapes of hands. It is as distinct from the superficially similar pseudoscience of palmistry. In the present study, correlation and analysis of diabetes with dermatoglyphic patterns was studied. The study involved people, aged between 40 – 75 years. Both genders were included in the study, which belonged to South India. The dermatoglyphic patterns of type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients were studied. The types of dermatoglyphic patterns were observed with the ‘atd’ angle of each person. In the present study, 90% of them were type 1 diabetic patients with minimum of family history of diabetics. The ‘atd’ angle of type 1 diabetic patients ranged from 30° to 45° which is a normal range. It was found that number of loops was greater than the whorls and arches in type1 diabetic patients. The ratio for Arch: whorl: loop is 28:81:107. It was analyzed that 10% of them were type 2 diabetic patients with minimum of family history of diabetics. The ‘atd’ angle of type 2 diabetic patients ranged from 30° to 43° where it is normal range. It was evident that numbers of loops were greater than the whorls and arches in type1diabetic patients. The ratio for Arch: whorl: loop is 4:22:64. The total mean ‘atd’ angle was higher in right hand of patient than left hand of patient with the p-value lesser than 0.05. So, it was statistically significant. The dermatoglyphics features of the present study may be used as a suggestive diagnostic tool to make a provisional diagnosis and to identify the persons who are at risk, but it requires more extensive studies in a large number of the patients