Likewise, NGAL levels were significantly elevated in asymptomatic patients with T2DM compared to asymptomatic non-diabetics [101.6 ng/ml (70.1–125.3) vs. 63.8 ng/ml (51.0–81.3), p < 0.0001, Fig. 2b]. Here, LCN2 is linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus.