Compared to the patients without DR, the patients with NPDR and PDR had lower BMI (24.6±3.5 and 23.5±3.4 vs. 25.4±3.6 kg/m2, p<0.001), longer duration of DM (11.9±8.0 and 12.0±8.2 vs. 6.7±6.3 years, p<0.001), higher level of HbA1c (8.3±1.8 and 8.5±2.1 vs. 7.5±1.7%, p<0.001), lower hemoglobin level (13.0±1.8 and 12.3±1.8 vs. 13.5±1.6 g/dL, p<0.001) and lower serum albumin level (4.3±0.5 and 4.2±0.6 vs. 4.4±0.4 g/dL, p<0.001). The gene discussed is ALB; the disease is diabetes mellitus.