You may be familiar with the various aspects contributing to hearing loss, like the impact of aging, genetic predisposition within families, or extended exposure to loud noises. However, you might find it intriguing to understand the link between diabetes and hearing loss. Allow us to elaborate.
How does diabetes increase your risk of hearing loss?
As per the CDC, 9% or 37 million individuals in the United States are diagnosed with diabetes, and this prevalence rises with age. Hearing loss is two times as prevalent in people with diabetes in comparison to those who don’t have the condition. Even in pre-diabetics, constituting 133 million Americans, the rate of hearing loss is 30% higher than in people with normal blood sugar levels.
Diabetes can result in nerve damage across a variety of bodily regions, encompassing the hands, feet, eyes, kidneys, and ears. The deterioration of the small blood vessels inside of your ears can be accelerated by high blood sugar levels. In contrast, low blood sugar levels can disrupt the transmission of nerve signals from the inner ear to the brain. Worsened hearing loss can be the outcome of both scenarios.
The lack of diabetes management causes persistent 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 often develops gradually and can go unnoticed if you’re not actively paying attention. It’s not unusual for people close to you to notice your hearing loss before you notice it.
Some indicative signs of hearing loss include:
- Struggling in loud restaurants
- Constantly needing people to repeat what they said
- Difficulty following phone conversations
- Keeping the TV volume at a high level
- Perceiving others as mumbling
If you experience any of these difficulties or if somebody points out changes in your hearing, it’s worthwhile to consult with us. After carrying out a hearing test, we will establish a baseline for future visits and help you with any problems you may be having with balance.
If you have diabetes, be proactive
We encourage all individuals who has diabetes to get an annual hearing test.
Maintain your blood sugar levels within the desired range.
Use ear protection and steer clear of overly loud situations.