In overall population, our meta-analysis revealed a significant association between the SERPINE1 rs1799889 polymorphism and overall diabetes risk, in allelic (4G vs. 5G: OR = 1.34, 95 % CI = 1.14–1.57, p = 0.00), homozygous (4G4G vs. 5G5G: OR = 1.66, 95 % CI = 1.23–2.14, p = 0.00), heterozygous (4G5G vs. 5G5G: OR = 1.35, 95 % CI = 1.08–1.69, p = 0.00), dominant (4G4G + 4G5G vs. 5G5G: OR = 1.49, 95 % CI = 1.18–1.88, p = 0.00),and recessive (4G4G vs. 5G5G + 5G4G: OR = 1.30, 95 % CI = 1.06–1.59, p = 0.01) models. The gene discussed is SERPINE1; the disease is diabetes mellitus.