Diabetic retinopathy should be considered within the context of the β-cell centric model of diabetes whereby diabetes and its complications arise from common pathophysiologic factors that damage the β-cell—inflammation/immune regulation, the interplay of genes with environmental processes (epigenetics), and insulin resistance and abnormal metabolic environment (section Diabetes and Its Complications Arise from Common Pathophysiologies) (6, 39, 40). The gene discussed is INS; the disease is diabetes mellitus.