Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disorders and stroke development and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate worldwide. Indeed, according to estimates of the International Diabetes Federation, 552 million people are expected to be diabetic in 2030. Although a definitive cure is not on the horizon, with proper management, diabetic patients can attenuate the development of serious complications that reduce life quality and expectancy. Facing a considerable rate of occurrence and prognosis complications, studies focusing on high efficiency and low toxicity treatments are of great importance.

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs controlling gene expression and participating in many physiopathological processes. These small molecules are getting a lot of attention nowadays since they are universally recognized as major regulators of gene expression and as key controllers of several biological and pathological processes. They are essential intracellular mediators in a variety of cellular processes, such as inflammation, mitochondrial metabolism, apoptosis, among others. Therefore, miRNAs could be potential targets to treat some chronic diseases. Besides, these molecules can also be used as early biomarkers, once they are released in urine and blood when in presence of tissue lesion. Recently, it was verified that miRNAs are also involved in cardiovascular disorders, especially those which impaired angiogenesis is observed.

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