Why Does an Endocrinologist Look at Your Hands?

30 July 2026 · Reviewed by Dr. Ebrahim Yusuf Ebrahim

It looks like a small thing, but examining the hands is one of the quickest windows an endocrinologist has into how your hormones are behaving.

If you've seen an endocrinologist, you may have noticed they spend a moment looking at and holding your hands. It isn't a formality — the hands carry a remarkable number of clues about the thyroid, the adrenal glands, diabetes and other hormone conditions.

Signs of an overactive thyroid

A fine tremor of the outstretched fingers, warm and sweaty palms, and a fast or irregular pulse can all point to an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). Occasionally the nails lift away from the nail bed — a sign called onycholysis ("Plummer's nails").

Signs of an underactive thyroid

The opposite pattern — cool, dry, rough skin and a slow pulse — can suggest an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). Tingling or numbness in the fingers from carpal tunnel syndrome is also more common when the thyroid is underactive.

Clues to diabetes and other conditions

In diabetes, the skin over the knuckles can thicken and the fingers can become stiff (cheiroarthropathy). A change in the size or soft-tissue thickness of the hands can be a clue to a growth-hormone problem (acromegaly), and pale creases can hint at anaemia or adrenal issues.

Why it matters

None of these signs makes a diagnosis on its own — but together they help an endocrinologist decide which blood tests and scans are worth doing, and how urgently. It's a fast, painless part of a thorough assessment.

See an endocrinologist in Nairobi

A careful examination, the right tests and a clear explanation are what a good endocrine consultation gives you. Meet our consultant endocrinologist and thyroid specialist in Nairobi, or book a consultation to have your own assessment.