VEGFA and metabolic syndrome: The diabetic rats had a marked increase (p < 0.05) in fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), insulin resistance (IR), lipase, dyslipidemia, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), pro‐apoptotic marker level, oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators, and a significant decline (p < 0.05) in pancreatic beta cell function index (HOMA‐β), serum levels of amylase and vitamin C, body weights, anti‐apoptotic marker level as well as histopathological changes in their retina.