P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.<br>Abbreviations: DN, diabetic nephropathy; CVD, cardiovascular disease; BMI, body mass index; DM, diabetes mellitus; AST, aspartate transaminase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; ALB, albumin; FBG, fasting blood glucose; WBC, white blood count; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; TC, total cholesterol; TG, terrogram; HbA1c, glycated haemoglobin; BUN, blood urea nitrogen; UA, uric acid; Scr, serum creatinine; CRP, hypersensitive C-reactive protein; C1q, complement 1q. The gene discussed is ALB; the disease is diabetic kidney disease.