Potential confounders were adjusted stepwise, including gender, age, duration of T2D, duration of DFD, BMI, smoking, hypertension, serum creatinine concentration, levels of white blood cell, HbA1c, DKD, DR, DPN, PAD, metformin, insulin secretagogues, insulin, ACEI/ARB and diuretics. Here, INS is linked to peripheral arterial disease.