[Left-handedness and diabetes mellitus of autoimmune origin].

A controversial theory postulates that there is an association between left handedness and immune and speech disorders. There are reports of increased frequency of left handedness in type I diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to compare 65 type I diabetics, 65 type II diabetics and 130 normal controls using a 7 item questionnaire for handedness. No differences were found for strong left handedness. However the frequency of strong right handedness decreased significantly from controls to type II diabetics and type I diabetics. Since less intense right handedness is not the same as left handedness, it is concluded that the theory is not supported by the present findings.