Patients in the low expression group had longer diabetes duration, lower plasma albumin and eGFR, higher glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), 24 h urinary protein, serum creatinine, and urinary podocalyxin/creatinine ratio, and more severe glomerular, tubulointerstitial, and renal interstitial inflammation than patients in the high expression group (all P < 0.01). This evidence concerns the gene PODXL and diabetes mellitus.