VEGFA and diabetes mellitus: Previous studies have suggested decreased tissue levels of growth factors, including keratinocyte growth factor, VEGF, PDGF, excess protease activity, decreased angiogenesis, altered inflammation, or an increased microbial load as possible contributing factors for the impaired wound healing observed in diabetes mellitus (Galkowska et al, 2006; Brem & Tomic-Canic, 2007; Grice et al, 2010; Gardner et al, 2013; Eming et al, 2014; Pastar et al, 2014; Lindley et al, 2016; Quinn et al, 2016; Ramirez et al, 2018).