Table 1. Baseline characteristics of subjects.

Note: Compared to controls, ^aP< 0.05; compared to diabetes group, ^bP<0.05; compared to mild DN group, ^cP<0.05.

Groups	Age	Sex<br>(male/female)	BMI<br>(kg/m2)	HbA1c <br> (%)
Controls	44.18±6.75	24/26	23.15±3.32	5. 85±0.74
Diabetes	46.23±7.85	26/24	24.73±3.11	6. 85±0.93a
Mild DN	44.91±6.08	22/28	23.01±3.65	7. 31±0.86ab
Moderate-severe DN	45.21±5.45	23/27	23.23±3.24	7. 85±0.93abc
F/χ2	0.148	0.702	3.216	53.626
P	0.931	0.873	0.024	<0.001