Both CRP and ESR were more strongly associated with functional CKD (ρ = 0.350 and 0.429, respectively; <i>p</i> < 0.001) than with ASCVD.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Inflammatory burden in T2DM shows a nonlinear cross-sectional pattern across diabetes duration, characterized by elevated levels in early and long-standing disease. Here, CRP is linked to chronic kidney disease.