CDKN2A and diabetes mellitus: Interestingly, genomewide association studies demonstrated the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms of HHEX and CDKN2a genes with type 2 diabetes mellitus.(47, 48) It has been well established that individuals with type 2 diabetes are at an increased risk of osteoporotic fractures, and it is possible that the modulation of HHEX gene expression may play a role in bone fragility in these patients.