Taken together, TUG1 expression was highly expressed in DR tissues and hRMECs exposed to HG, and and downregulation of TUG1 was found to be effective in slowing the progression of diabetic retinopathy by impairing the inhibitory effects of miR-524-5p on FGFR2, providing a new perspective on the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy and supporting future investigation of the TUG1/miR-524-5p/FGFR2. The gene discussed is FGFR2; the disease is diabetic retinopathy.