Patients with DM were older and had a greater waist circumference and WHR, greater SBP, fasting glucose, triglycerides and lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), red blood cell count (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb) and Hct. The gene discussed is GSTM1; the disease is diabetes mellitus.