You may be familiar with the various factors contributing to hearing loss, such as the impact of getting older, genetic predisposition within families, or extended exposure to loud sounds. However, you may find it interesting to understand the connection between diabetes and hearing loss. Let’s dig a little bit deeper into that.
How is your risk of developing hearing loss raised by diabetes?
The prevalence of diabetes increases as you get older, and 37 million individuals, or 9% of the United States population, cope with this condition according to the CDC. And if you have diabetes, you’re two times as likely to develop hearing loss. Even in pre-diabetics, constituting 133 million Americans, the degree of hearing loss is 30% higher than in people with normal blood sugar levels.
A variety of body areas can be impacted by diabetes: kidneys, hands, feet, eyes, and even ears. The deterioration of the small blood vessels inside of your ears can be increased by elevated 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 outcome of both scenarios.
The lack of diabetes control induces chronic high blood pressure, leading to damage to the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, nerves, and eyes.
Signs you may have hearing loss
If you aren’t actively monitoring the condition of your hearing, hearing loss can gradually sneak up on you. In many cases, friends and colleagues may detect the problem before you identify it.
Some suggestive signs of hearing loss include:
- Constantly needing people to repeat what they said
- Having a hard time hearing in noisy places
- Difficulty hearing on the phone
- Perceiving others as mumbling
- Always needing to crank up the volume of your devices and TV
If you encounter any of these challenges or if somebody points out changes in your hearing, it’s important to consult with us. We will perform a hearing exam that will establish a baseline for future assessments and also address any balance-related concerns.
Be proactive if you have diabetes
We encourage anyone with diabetes to get an annual hearing check.
Maintain control of your blood sugar levels.
Utilize ear protection and avoid overly loud settings.