In a study of people with type 2 diabetes with (n = 51) or without (n = 42) peripheral arterial disease and in healthy volunteers (n = 23), plasma MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 levels (mean ± SD, ng/mL) quantified using ELISA were significantly increased in the diabetes group with peripheral arterial disease compared with healthy volunteers (MMP‐2: peripheral arterial disease, 1121 ± 456; controls, 701 ± 362; P < .01; MMP‐9: peripheral arterial disease, 62 ± 30; controls, 25 ± 17; P < .001).51 This evidence concerns the gene MMP9 and diabetes mellitus.