ANGPTL2 and type 2 diabetes mellitus: According to our findings, serum VEGF-A exhibited statistical differences along the severity of disease (1.61 ±1.57 ng/mL in T2DM without DR, 2.75± 2.39 ng/mL in NPDR group, and 4.68± 2.56 ng/mL in PDR group, p<0.001*), and ANGPTL2 also exhibited a significant association between patients who had diabetic retinopathy and those who did not (T2DM without DR: 4.94±1.60 ng/mL, NPDR = 5.78±2.19ng/mL, PDR = 7.79±2.03ng/mL, p <0.001*).