Following ANOVA adjustment for age, gender, duration of DM and duration of DFU, the patients with Wagner grade 4 and 5 ulcers had significantly lower cholesterol levels, BMI (also adjusted for SBP and DBP), hemoglobin levels (also adjusted for HbA1c, total protein, creatinine and 24 h-urine protein) and albumin levels (also adjusted for total protein, creatinine, 24 h-urine protein and 24 h-urine microalbuminuria) than the patients with Wagner grade 0 and 1 ulcers (all P<0.05). The gene discussed is ALB; the disease is diabetes mellitus.