HMOX1 and diabetic kidney disease: QGDD activated the SIRT1/Nrf2 pathway, significantly upregulating the mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and GPX4, while suppressing the accumulation of AGEs and Ferritin.<h4>Conclusion</h4>QGDD mitigated the persistent elevation of AGEs, a hallmark of metabolic memory in DKD by activating the SIRT1/Nrf2 signaling pathway to inhibit ferroptosis-associated lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress.