The E23K variant of the Kir6.2 gene has been shown to be associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Caucasian subjects. Because offspring of type 2 diabetic patients have a genetically increased risk of developing diabetes, we sought to identify the E23K variant of the Kir6.2 gene in offspring of Caribbean patients with type 2 diabetes and assess the contribution of this variant to impaired glucose tolerance in these subjects. Forty-six offspring of patients with type 2 diabetes and 39 apparently healthy subjects whose immediate parents were not diabetic ('control') were studied after an overnight fast. Anthropometric indices were measured and blood samples were collected. Fasting and 2 h plasma glucose, insulin and lipids were subsequently determined. Insulin resistance was calculated using the homeostatic model assessment technique. The offspring and control subjects had similar frequencies of the E23K polymorphism (52.6 vs 45.5%, P>0.05) and the frequency of the E23K variant did not differ significantly between gender and ethnic distributions, irrespectively of a family history of diabetes (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in biochemical risk factors for developing diabetes in offspring carriers of the E23K variant compared with offspring non-carriers of the mutation. Offspring with the E23K mutation had even significantly higher 2 h insulin concentrations when compared with control subjects. It is concluded that the presence of the Kir6.2 E23K genotype in Caribbean subjects with an immediate positive family history of diabetes does not confer significantly higher levels of biochemical risk factors for the development of type 2 diabetes.