Genetic predisposition, aging, and prolonged exposure to loud noise are all familiar factors that can contribute to hearing loss. However, you may find it interesting to understand the link between diabetes and hearing loss. Let’s dig a little deeper into that.
How does diabetes increase your risk of hearing loss?
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. 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 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 accelerated 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 control causes persistent 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
Hearing loss frequently develops slowly 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.
Here are a few signs of hearing loss:
- Having a difficult time hearing in loud places
- Difficulty hearing on the phone
- Always needing to crank the volume up on your devices and TV
- Perceiving others as mumbling
- Frequently asking others to repeat themselves
If you encounter any of these challenges or if somebody points out changes in your hearing, it’s essential to consult with us. We will carry out a hearing examination that will establish a baseline for future assessments and also address any balance-related challenges.
If you have diabetes, be proactive
We encourage anyone who has diabetes to get a yearly hearing test.
Keep your blood sugar levels within the desired range.
Use ear protection and steer clear of overly loud settings.