The relationship between second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) and type 2 diabetes mellitus

The Relationship between Second to Fourth Digit Ratio (2D:4D) and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease with a high morbidity rate. The absence of pancreatic secreted insulin hormone occurs as a result of insufficient production or insufficient use of the produced insulin. It causes serious complications in acute and chronic period. The most significant bodily characteristics that are thought to be influenced by prenatal sex hormone levels are second (2D) and fourth digit (4D) lengths. The ratio between these two digit lengths (2D:4D) is formed by the effect of fetal testosterone and estrogen. In this study ıt was aimed to reveal the relationship between hand finger measurements and ratios, which are thought to be determined by hormonal effects, and diabetes, a hormonal disease. A total of 400 people including 200 women and 200 men diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were included in the study. Body length, weight, fasting blood glucose and postprandial blood glucose measurements of all subjects included in the patient and control groups were measured and body mass indexes were determined. Palm width, palm length, 2D and 4D lengths were measured as anthropometric measurements. Hand indexes and 2D:4D ratios were calculated. The data relating to the patient and control groups were compared with the Student-t test. When diabetes patients were evaluated by looking at body mass index values; men were overweight, and women were in the first degree obese class. 4 The male and female patients' palms were wider and the hand indexes larger than the control group (p <0.05). While 2D values of female patients were shorter than control group, 4D was longer. 4D values of male patients were shorter than control group (p <0.001). When finger ratios are examined; It was determined that diabetic women had a smaller 2D:4D ratio compared to the control group and men with diabetes had a higher ratio (p <0.001). It can be concluded that 2D:4D ratio can be an important criterion which can contribute to the determination of risk of diabetes mellitus from the birth, and it can be said that it will enable people in risk group to live in more preventive way. Key Words: 2D:4D ratio, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Anthropometry, Hand, Digit.