U-ETP levels had a weak positive association with age (rho = 0.05, p = 0.003), diabetes duration (rho = 0.06, p = 0.0004), diastolic (rho = 0.05, p = 0.004) and systolic blood pressure (rho = 0.1, p < 0.0001), HbA1c (rho = 0.04, p = 0.01), LDL (rho = 0.07, p < 0.0001), HDL (rho = 0.13, p < 0.0001), eGFR (rho = 0.05, p = 0.006), ACR (rho = 0.11, p < 0.0001) and NTproBNP (rho = 0.10, p < 0.0001), and a weak negative association with AST (rho = − 0.07, p = 0.0001) and ALT (rho = − 0.09, p = 0.0001). The gene discussed is NPPB; the disease is diabetes mellitus.