miR-204 upregulation, reduced NOX, RAGE, MMPs expression, downregulation of IKKβ/NF-κB phosphorylation, Nrf2, AdipoR1/2, JNK activation, TNF-α and IL-6, reduced macrophage infiltration, and ERK and PDX1 activation may reduce diabetes-associated CVDs and diabetic nephropathy. Here, MAPK8 is linked to diabetic kidney disease.