2.3. Blood and urine sampling
Blood and urine samples were collected in the
morning after 12-h fasting. Serum was separated
within 1 h. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was
measured with high-pressure liquid chromatography
method using Hi-Auto A1c (Kyoto Daiichi Kagaku,
Kyoto, Japan). Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides
(TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
(HDL-C) and creatinine (s-Cr) were measured using
auto-analyzer (Hitachi). Urinary protein was measured
using 24-h urine sample.