KCNJ11 rs5210 and KCNQ1 rs2237895 variants were found to be significantly associated with risk of T2DM in dominant (KCNJ11: OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.30–3.27; p − 0.001; KCNQ1: OR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.46–3.70; p − 0.0003) and codominant models (KCNJ11: OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.09–2.84; p − 0.020; KCNQ1: OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.16–2.95; p − 0.009). This evidence concerns the gene KCNQ1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.