Genetic predisposition, aging, and prolonged exposure to loud sound are all familiar factors that can contribute to hearing loss. But the connection between hearing loss and diabetes isn’t as widely known. Let’s dig a little bit deeper into that.
How does diabetes raise 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, have this condition according to the CDC. Hearing loss is twice as prevalent in people with diabetes in comparison to people without the condition. 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.
Diabetes can result in nerve damage across a variety of bodily regions, including the hands, feet, eyes, kidneys, and ears. The degeneration of the small blood vessels inside of your ears can be accelerated by high blood sugar levels. In contrast, low blood sugar levels can interrupt the transmission of nerve signals from the inner ear to the brain. Both situations can contribute to hearing loss.
Damage to the kidneys, heart, nerves, eyes, and blood vessels can be caused by chronic high blood pressure resulting from uncontrolled diabetes.
You might have hearing loss if you notice any of these signs
Hearing loss frequently happens slowly and can go unnoticed if you’re not actively paying attention. In many instances, friends and co-workers may notice the problem before you become aware of it.
Here are a few signs of hearing loss:
- Perceiving others as mumbling
- Trouble hearing on the phone
- Always needing to turn up the volume of your devices and TV
- Constantly needing people to repeat what they said
- Having a hard time hearing in noisy places
It’s essential to contact us for a consultation if you notice any of these signs or if somebody points out your hearing changes. After carrying out a hearing screening, we will set up a baseline for future visits and help you with any issues you might be having with balance.
If you have diabetes, be proactive
We encourage anyone who has diabetes to get an annual hearing check.
Maintain your blood sugar levels within the desired range.
Use ear protection and steer clear of overly loud settings.
