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 noises. But the connection between hearing loss and diabetes is not as well known. Let us elaborate.
How does diabetes raise your risk of hearing loss?
As per the CDC, 9% or 37 million people in the United States are diagnosed with diabetes, and this prevalence increases with age. Hearing loss is twice as prevalent in individuals with diabetes in comparison to those who don’t have the condition. 133 million Americans are pre-diabetic and even they have a 30% increased risk of experiencing hearing loss than people whose blood sugar is normal.
Diabetes can cause 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 accelerated 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 result of both situations.
Damage to the kidneys, heart, nerves, eyes, and blood vessels can be caused by chronic high blood pressure due to uncontrolled diabetes.
Signs you might have hearing loss
If you’re not actively monitoring the state of your hearing, hearing loss can slowly sneak up on you. It’s not unusual for people close to you to notice your hearing loss before you become aware of it.
Some indicative signs of hearing loss include:
- Always having to turn up the volume of your devices and TV
- Having a hard time hearing in loud places
- Trouble hearing on the phone
- Frequently asking others to repeat themselves
- Perceiving others as mumbling
If you encounter any of these difficulties or if someone points out changes in your hearing, it’s important to consult with us. After doing a hearing screening, we will establish a baseline for future visits and help you with any problems you might be having with balance.
If you have diabetes, be proactive
Getting an annual hearing test is important, and that’s especially true for someone who has diabetes.
Keep your blood sugar levels within the desired range.
Steer clear of loud noises and protect your ears by wearing earplugs.