Here, we carried out extensive phenotypic, genetic and genome-wide gene expression analyses in this congenic strain to demonstrate the combined impact of GK gene variants present at the locus Nidd/gk1 on a wide range of phenotypes involved in the cardio-metabolic syndrome and diabetes complications and on cis- and trans- mechanisms of gene expression regulation in key organs (kidney, liver, skeletal muscle and white adipose tissue) for these diseases. Here, ZDHHC23 is linked to diabetes mellitus.