First, pre-treatment univariate analysis revealed that age ≥ 71 years, diabetes, platelet count < 13.2 × 104/μL, albumin < 3.9 g/dL, AFP ≥ 6.2 ng/mL, FIB 4 index ≥ 3.25, and LSM ≥ 9.2 kPa were significant contributors of HCC occurrence. Here, AFP is linked to diabetes mellitus.