ALB and diabetic kidney disease: The aim of the study was to assess the function of renal tubules in patients with early-stage T2DM as reflected by uNGAL concentrations in a group of T2DM patients at the early stage of DKD, that is, with eGFR ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 and urine albumin/creatinine ratio (uACR) < 300 mg/g.