Meanwhile, protein levels and the phosphorylation of phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) and protein kinase B (AKT; S473) were decreased in the diabetic retina, with the conclusion being that in the diabetic retina, there are alterations in insulin signaling—such as impaired PDK/AKT responses—that may contribute to retinopathy. Here, AKT1 is linked to retinal disorder.