This corroborates the findings of previous studies that reported the inverse associations of adiponectin levels independently with active smoking6–10 and DM incidence.11–14 The present study revealed, for the first time, that adiponectin may play a significant mediating role in the smoking-DM association; the effect of being a light, moderate, or heavy smoker on DM incidence may be due in part to its indirect effect through adiponectin. Here, ADIPOQ is linked to diabetes mellitus.