The combined effect of PNPLA2 rs28633403 AA+rs1138714 AG or GG genotype showed an association with DKD, adjusted by confounders (aOR, 2.194; 95% CI 1.378-3.492; P = 0.001), which was considered statistically significant with a markedly increased risk of DKD after a Holm-Bonferroni correction for multiple tests (P < 0.00125). Here, PNPLA2 is linked to diabetic kidney disease.