In a recent cross-sectional case-control study conducted in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus or type 2 diabetes mellitus, significant associations were reported between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the VEGF-C gene and the development of diabetic retinopathy, indicating a possible functional role of VEGF-C in the pathogenesis of the disease [51]. This evidence concerns the gene VEGFC and type 1 diabetes mellitus.