Using the Wilcoxon test, age, diabetes duration, HbA1, and LDL-C, but not BMI, blood pressure and HDL-C, triglycerides and smoking were significantly associated with the development of DME, while gender, blood pressure (≥ 140/80 mm Hg) and the use of insulin were significant contributors in bivariable analysis after Bonferroni correction. Here, INS is linked to diabetes mellitus.