We conducted a case-control study to investigate the role of three common polymorphisms (rs10754558, rs7512998, and rs12137901) of the gene NLR family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Between May 2013 and May 2014, 385 patients with T2DM and 401 control subjects were enrolled in our study. Genotyping of the three NLRP3 polymorphisms of interest was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Unconditional logistic regression analyses showed that individuals carrying GG and GC+GG rs10754558 genotypes were at significantly increased risk of T2DM, with adjusted odds ratios (and 95% confidence intervals) of 1.81 (1.16-2.83) and 1.40 (1.04-1.88), respectively. In conclusion, we propose that the NLRP3 rs10754558 polymorphism contributes to the development of T2DM, but that rs7512998 and rs12137901 variants are not associated with susceptibility to this disease.