The 10q23 locus contains three genes within the region of linkage disequilibrium harboring the T2D and BMI associated signal, encoding insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), kinesin family member 11 (KIF11) and hematopoietically expressed homeobox (HHEX), respectively down the chromosomal arm, with KIF11 and HHEX transcribed on the sense strand. This evidence concerns the gene IDE and type 2 diabetes mellitus.