A study found that in early-onset type 2 diabetes, a higher triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index was independently associated with increased urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), indicating early diabetic kidney injury. This study aimed to explore the correlation between the TyG index and UACR in patients with early-onset type 2 diabetes. Participants were stratified into three groups based on the tertiles of the TyG index: Q1 (< 7.67), Q2 (7.67–8.33), and Q3 (> 8.33). The association between TyG index, traditional glucose/lipid parameters, and elevated UACR (≥ 30 mg/g) was assessed using correlation analysis and binary logistic regression models. Notably, the TyG index demonstrated superior discriminatory efficacy compared to traditional lipid parameters, including triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and HDL-C.