You may be familiar with the numerous factors contributing to hearing loss, such as the impact of getting older, genetic predisposition within families, or prolonged exposure to loud noises. However, you may find it interesting to discover the connection between diabetes and hearing loss. Let’s dig a little deeper into that.
How does diabetes raise your risk of hearing loss?
As per the CDC, 9% or 37 million people in the United States are diagnosed with diabetes, and this prevalence increases with age. Hearing loss is two times as prevalent in people with diabetes in comparison to those who don’t have the condition. 133 million Americans are pre-diabetic and even they have a 30% increased risk of experiencing hearing loss than people whose blood sugar is normal.
Various body areas can be affected by diabetes: kidneys, hands, feet, eyes, and even ears. The degeneration of the small blood vessels inside of your ears can be increased by high blood sugar levels. And on the other end of the spectrum, the transmission of nerve signals from the inner ear can be interrupted by low blood sugar. Worsened hearing loss can be the result of both scenarios.
The lack of diabetes management triggers chronic high blood pressure, causing damage to the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, nerves, and eyes.
You might have hearing loss if you detect any of these signs
Hearing loss frequently occurs gradually and can go unnoticed if you aren’t actively paying attention. In many situations, friends and co-workers might notice the problem before you become aware of it.
Here are a few signs of hearing loss:
- Constantly needing people to repeat what they said
- Having a hard time hearing in noisy places
- Difficulty hearing on the phone
- Keeping the TV volume at a high level
- Feeling like people are mumbling when they speak
If you encounter any of these difficulties or if somebody points out changes in your hearing, it’s important to consult with us. After performing a hearing test, we will establish a baseline for future visits and help you with any issues you may be having with balance.
If you have diabetes, be proactive
We encourage anybody with diabetes to get a yearly hearing check.
Maintain control of your blood sugar levels.
Avoid loud noises and protect your ears by using earplugs.