Regarding the inflammatory markers, IL-6 and IL-12 significantly higher in the DN group (median, 15.3 & 11.3 pg/mL, respectively) compared to the control group (median, 8.4 & 7.4 pg/mL, respectively); at the same time, IL-6 was significantly higher in DN group compared to the DM group, as seen in Figs. 1H and 1I. Here, IL6 is linked to diabetes mellitus.