Maternal hyperglycemia during pregnancy adversely affects maternal and child outcomes. While mechanisms are not fully understood, maternal circulating miRNAs may play a role. We examined whether continuous glucose levels and hyperglycemia subtypes (gestational diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and glucose intolerance) were associated with circulating miRNAs during late pregnancy. Seven miRNAs (hsa-miR-107, hsa-let-7b-5p, hsa-miR-126-3p, hsa-miR-181a-5p, hsa-miR-374a-5p, hsa-miR-382-5p, and hsa-miR-337-5p) were associated (p < 0.05) with either hyperglycemia or continuous glucose levels prior to multiple testing correction. These miRNAs target genes involved in pathways relevant to maternal and child health, including insulin signaling, placental development, energy balance, and appetite regulation.
Keywords: diabetes; glucose; miRNA; pregnancy.