You may be familiar with the various factors contributing to hearing loss, such as the impact of getting older, genetic predisposition within families, or prolonged exposure to loud sounds. However, you might find it intriguing to discover the connection between diabetes and hearing loss. Allow us to elaborate.
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. 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.
Various 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 increased 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 worsen hearing loss.
Damage to the kidneys, heart, nerves, eyes, and blood vessels can be caused by persistent high blood pressure due to uncontrolled diabetes.
Signs you might be dealing with hearing loss
If you’re not actively monitoring the state of your hearing, hearing loss can gradually sneak up on you. It’s not uncommon for people close to you to notice your hearing loss before you notice it.
Some indicative signs of hearing loss include:
- Perceiving others as mumbling
- Frequently asking others to repeat themselves
- Having a hard time hearing in noisy places
- Always having to crank the volume up on your devices and TV
- Trouble hearing on the phone
If you experience any of these difficulties or if someone points out changes in your hearing, it’s essential to consult with us. After performing a hearing examination, we will establish 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 anybody with diabetes to get an annual hearing test.
Maintain control of your blood sugar levels.
Utilize ear protection and steer clear of overly loud settings.