You might be familiar with the various factors contributing to hearing loss, such as the impact of aging, genetic predisposition within families, or prolonged exposure to loud sounds. However, you may find it interesting to discover the link 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 individuals in the United States are diagnosed with diabetes, and this prevalence increases with age. And if you have diabetes, you’re two times as likely to experience hearing loss. 133 million Americans are pre-diabetic and even they have a 30% higher risk of developing hearing loss than people whose blood sugar is normal.
A variety of body regions can be impacted by diabetes: kidneys, hands, feet, eyes, and even ears. The degeneration of the small blood vessels inside of your ears can be accelerated by high blood sugar levels. Conversely, low blood sugar levels can disrupt the transmission of nerve signals from the inner ear to the brain. Worsened hearing loss can be the result of both scenarios.
The lack of diabetes management causes chronic high blood pressure, causing damage to the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, nerves, and eyes.
You may have hearing loss if you detect any of these signs
If you aren’t actively monitoring the state of your hearing, hearing loss can gradually sneak up on you. In many situations, friends and co-workers may notice the issue before you become aware of it.
Some indicative signs of hearing loss include:
- Having a tough time hearing in noisy places
- Trouble hearing on the phone
- Perceiving others as mumbling
- Constantly needing people to repeat what they said
- Keeping the TV volume really loud
If you notice any of these challenges or if someone points out changes in your hearing, it’s important to consult with us. We will perform a hearing examination that will establish a baseline for future assessments and also address any balance-related concerns.
Be proactive if you have diabetes
Getting a yearly hearing test is important, and that’s particularly true for someone who has diabetes.
Keep your blood sugar levels within the desired range.
Avoid loud noises and protect your ears by using earplugs.