You may be familiar with the various factors contributing to hearing loss, such as the impact of getting older, genetic predisposition within families, or prolonged exposure to loud sounds. However, you might find it interesting to understand the link between diabetes and hearing impairment. Allow us to elaborate.
How is your risk of developing hearing loss increased by diabetes?
As per the CDC, 9% or 37 million individuals in the United States are diagnosed with diabetes, and this prevalence increases with age. Hearing loss is two times as prevalent in individuals with diabetes in comparison to individuals who don’t have the condition. Even in pre-diabetics, constituting 133 million Americans, the degree of hearing loss is 30% higher than in people with normal blood sugar levels.
Diabetes can result in nerve damage across various bodily areas, encompassing the hands, feet, eyes, kidneys, and ears. The degeneration of the small blood vessels inside of your ears can be increased by high blood sugar levels. In contrast, low blood sugar levels can interrupt the transmission of nerve signals from the inner ear to the brain. Both scenarios can contribute to hearing loss.
The lack of diabetes management causes persistent high blood pressure, leading to damage to the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, nerves, and eyes.
You may have hearing loss if you detect any of these signs
Hearing loss frequently happens slowly and can go undetected if you aren’t actively paying attention. It’s not uncommon for people close to you to observe your hearing loss before you become aware of it.
Here are a few signs of hearing loss:
- Frequently asking others to repeat themselves
- Having a hard time hearing in loud places
- Feeling as if people are mumbling when they speak
- Always needing to crank the volume up on your devices and TV
- Trouble hearing on the phone
It’s important to contact us for a consultation if you experience any of these signs or if somebody points out your hearing changes. We will conduct a hearing exam that will establish a baseline for future assessments and also address any balance-related concerns.
If you have diabetes, be proactive
We encourage anybody who has diabetes to get an annual hearing check.
Keep control of your blood sugar levels.
Use ear protection and steer clear of overly loud settings.
