Multifactor logistic regression analysis revealed that being male, having a longer disease duration, higher systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio were risk factors for the development of diabetic retinopathy, while non-pharmacological treatment was a protective factor. The gene discussed is ALB; the disease is diabetic retinopathy.