The results indicated that the NDRG1 expression level, diabetes duration, age, BMI, SBP, HbA1c, SCr, BUN, UACR, total 24-h urine protein, and the presence of DR in the DKD Group were significantly different from those in the T2DM Group (P < 0.05). Here, NDRG1 is linked to diabetic kidney disease.