Dermatoglyphs do not change throughout life. The authors sought their "predictive type" for diabetes with regard to the possibility of early prediction and thus prevention of the development of diabetes, in particular type 2. They used a point score of the abnormality in three qualitative and two quantitative signs and found, as compared with the normal population, in groups of subjects with impaired glucose tolerance, DM II and DM I deviations with an increasing significance. The frequency of thus assessed abnormalities in each subject on both hands (0-10) was compared in relations to the diagnosis and family-history of diabetes and the authors evaluated the incidence of different abnormalities in the whole group of 300 subjects and in sub-groups. After statistical evaluation the authors conclude that the abnormality of the qualitative sign of the C line (lacking or reduced) could be considered as another early predictive factor: in the offsprings of diabetics for both types of diabetes, in the remainder for DM type 1.

Keywords: Dermatoglyphics; Diabetes Mellitus /diagnosis/; Female; Humans; Male