However, GDF-15 plasma levels were lower in the short duration diabetes group (0.82 ± 0.09 vs. 1.19 ± 0.14 ng/mL, p = 0.034, and HDL cholesterol (1.1 ± 0.1 vs. 1.4 ± 0.1 mmol/L, p = 0.043). Here, GDF15 is linked to diabetes mellitus.