Mean urinary NGAL and NGAL/creatinine ratio (NGAL/Cr) levels in both microalbuminuric and nonmicroalbuminuric diabetic patients were found to be higher than those in the controls, indicating that tubular involvement may precede glomerular involvement, as urinary NGAL levels are increased in the very early phase of diabetes before microalbuminuria develops [24]. The gene discussed is LCN2; the disease is diabetes mellitus.