OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, its combination with the body roundness index (BRI), and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) based on a cross-sectional analysis conducted in Eastern China. METHODS: The research originates from a cross-sectional study performed in Zhejiang Province, Eastern China, between March and November 2018. The TyG-BRI index was calculated based on triglyceride, fasting blood glucose, and the BRI. The correlation between the TyG-BRI index and the risk of CKD was assessed using a restricted cubic spline model. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to investigate the association between the TyG-BRI index and the risk of CKD. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses was used to evaluate the optimal cut-off and value of the TyG-BRI index for predicting CKD. RESULTS: A total of 1756 T2DM participants were enrolled in this study. The TyG-BRI index was significantly higher in participants with CKD than in those without CKD. In the fully adjusted model, the odds ratios for CKD in the second, third, and fourth TyG-BRI quartiles were 0.93 (95% CI: 0.65-1.33), 1.33 (95% CI: 0.94-1.88), and 1.57 (95% CI: 1.10-2.25), respectively, compared to the first quartile. RCS analysis confirmed a linear dose-response relationship between the TyG-BRI index and CKD risk (all CONCLUSIONS: The TyG-BRI index was positively associated with the risk of CKD in a T2DM population, demonstrating a dose-response relationship and moderate predictive value. It may serve as a valuable tool for identifying high-risk individuals and informing targeted interventions to prevent or delay CKD progression in this population.