Dermatoglyphics is a heritable, durable, and age-independent trait in man and widely used as a model trait for population genetics and medical research. Present study is an attempt to understand the association of finger and hypothenar pattern types with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). To achieve the purpose bilateral palm prints of 30 clinically diagnosed adult female NIDDM patients and 60 healthy adult females without having the history of diabetes as non-diabetic were
incorporated from the Bengalee Hindu caste population of West Bengal, India. The result demonstrated higher frequency of ulnar loop, radial loop, composite and plain arch in NIDDM patients than nondiabetic
individuals. The result also revealed higher occurrence of hypothenar pattern in NIDDM patients than that of non-diabetic individuals. There were significant (p<0.05) differences in finger ridge and hypothenar patterns between NIDDM and non-diabetic individuals. Therefore, the present study indicated that higher frequency unlar loop and hypothenar pattern as well as lower frequency of whorl may be used as a screening tool to identify the person at risk of developing NIDDM.