During the early stage of diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), the expression of AKT and p-AKT in the retina exhibited a decrease at 8 and 12 weeks after diabetes induction, but displayed an increase at 4 weeks in a study using streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats [13]. The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy.