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Abstract Background Evidence links gamma‐glutamyl transferase (GGT) to mortality in the general population. However, the relationship of GGT with all‐cause and cause‐specific mortality risk has been little explored in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Methods We recruited 20 340 community‐dwelling T2DM patients between 2013 and 2014 in Jiangsu, China. Cox regression models were used to assess associations of GGT with all‐cause and specific‐cause mortality. Restricted cubic splines were used to analyze dose–response relationships between GGT and mortality. Stratified analysis was conducted to examine potential interaction effects by age, sex, smoking status, body mass index (BMI), diabetes duration, and dyslipidemia. Results During a median follow‐up period of 7.04 years (interquartile range: 6.98–7.08), 2728 deaths occurred, including 902 (33.09%) due to cardiovascular disease (CVD), and 754 (27.58%) due to cancer. GGT concentrations were positively associated with all‐cause, CVD, and cancer mortality. Multivariable hazard ratios (HRs) for the highest (Q5) vs. the lowest quintile (Q1) were 1.63 (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.44–1.84) for all‐cause mortality, 1.87 (95% CI: 1.49–2.35) for CVD mortality, and 1.43 (95% CI: 1.13–1.81) for cancer mortality. Effect modification by BMI and dyslipidemia was observed for all‐cause mortality (both p for interaction