As expected, the thoracic aorta of DVC mice had significantly higher ALP activity (Fig. 6C), calcification (Fig. 6D–F) and levels of RUNX2 and BMP2 (Fig. 7A, C and D) compared to animals in the ND group, suggesting the successful establishment of a diabetic vascular calcification model. This evidence concerns the gene RUNX2 and diabetes mellitus.