ALB and diabetic retinopathy: No significant intergroup differences were observed in terms of diabetes duration, smoking history, systolic blood pressure, glycemic control, total and HDL cholesterol, platelet count, AST, GGT, albumin, kidney function parameters, and comorbidities (such as prior ischemic heart disease and diabetic retinopathy), as well as the current use of lipid-lowering, anti-hypertensive, antiplatelet, or glucose-lowering agents (except for metformin use).