To investigate the effects of the interactions between type 2 diabetes risk-related genetic variations and occupational noise on prediabetes, and to provide the evidence for prevention of prediabetes in occupational populations.

A total of 991 workers in a tobacco plant were selected using a cluster sampling method. All subjects were classified into the control group (n=407) and exposure group (n=584) according to their noise exposure levels. The whole blood was collected for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) measurement and the iPLEX system was used for genotyping. The multivariable logistic regression model was used to explore the interactions of noise and type 2 diabetes risk-related genetic variations on prediabetes.

A total of 143 cases of pre-diabetes were detected with a prevalence of 14.30%. With adjustment for age, gender, smoking, alcohol consumption and body mass index (BMI), the risk of prediabetes in noise-exposed workers was 1.535 times than that of non-noise-exposed workers. CDKAL1-rs2206734 TT and IGF2BP2-rs1470579 CC genotype carriers were the risk factors for prediabetes (all OR>1, all P<0.05), and there was an interaction between IGF2BP2-rs1470579 and occupational noise exposure based on multiplication models (P<0.05).

The CDKAL1-rs2206734 TT and IGF2BP2-rs1470579 CC genotype are susceptible genes for prediabetes, and they interact with occupational noise based on a multiplicative model.