Other clinical characteristics, such as hypertension, glaucoma, cataract, renal disease, dyslipidemia and glycemic control, showed no association with the presence of DR in the analyzed patients (P>0.05) (Table II); however, a significant association was found between the use of insulin therapy and the presence of DR (P=0.0290) with an OR value of 0.4026 (95% CI, 0.1793–0.9040) (Table II). This evidence concerns the gene INS and metabolic syndrome.