Fig. 1

Flow chart of sample selection in the GEA study. Subjects of the control group in GEA study were stratified according to fasting plasma glucoses levels in normoglycemic (NG: < 5.6 mmol/l); impaired fasting glucose (IFG: ≥5.6 mmol/l but <7.0 mmol/l) or newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (nTD2: ≥70.0 mmol/l). CHD: coronary heart disease, GFR: glomerular filtration rate, and FFA: free fatty acids