At both 10-week and 18-week time-points, these studies demonstrated increased ratios of p-mTOR to total mTOR, increased abundance of p62, reduced abundance of ULK1 and Atg12 and reduced ratio of LC3B to LC3A in NS-DM compared to Non-DM—consistent with higher mTOR pathway activity and reduced autophagy within the kidneys of diabetic animals. Here, ATG12 is linked to diabetes mellitus.