Adiponectin levels appeared to partially mediate the association between the three categories of current smoking and DM incidence: the indirect effects of being a light (point estimate 0.033; BC 95% CI 0.005–0.082), moderate (point estimate 0.044; BC 95% CI 0.010–0.094) or heavy smoker (point estimate 0.054; BC 95% CI 0.013–0.113) on DM, relative to never smokers, were statistically significant. This evidence concerns the gene ADIPOQ and diabetes mellitus.