While no association with AER was seen in the patients reaching the current recommended treatment target of an HbA 1c ≤ 7.0% (N = 304, β [95% CI] = −0.017 [−0.137–0.101], p = 0.78), the association was highly significant ( p = 1.7 × 10 −9 ) in the patients with an HbA 1c > 7.0% (N = 2560, β [95% CI] = 0.17 [0.117–0.230]).
Despite substantial estimated heritability, only variants in the GLRA3 gene have been genome-wide significantly associated ( p -value < 5 × 10 −8 ) with diabetic albuminuria, in Finnish individuals with type 1 diabetes; However, replication attempt in non-Finnish Europeans with type 1 diabetes showed nominally significant association in the opposite direction, suggesting a population-specific effect, but simultaneously leaving the finding controversial.