• Diabetes-related GLIS deficiency leads to preferential upregulation of the BimS isoform.• Diabetes-related PTPN2 deficiency leads to STAT-1-mediated Bim upregulation.• Deficiency of BACH2 leads to downregulation of PTPN2 and Bim upregulation.• Reduced expression of Cathepsin H leads to increased Bim expression. Here, BACH2 is linked to diabetes mellitus.