Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a heterogeneous clinical condition characterised by the presence of persistent overt proteinuria (urine albumin creatinine ratio or UACR ≥ 300 mg/g or 3 mg/mmol) and declining renal function reflected by an estimated glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR) of < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 [1]. Here, ALB is linked to diabetic kidney disease.