As a result of the impaired clearance of Hp–Hb 2-2 complexes in DM patients, there is an increased concentration of Hp–Hb in Hp 2-2 DM individuals, which allows the complex to associate with other plasma proteins to which it normally does not bind (such as low-density lipoproteins (HDL)) [30]. This evidence concerns the gene GSTM1 and diabetes mellitus.