You may be acquainted with the various aspects contributing to hearing loss, like the impact of aging, genetic predisposition within families, or prolonged exposure to loud noises. But the link between hearing loss and diabetes is not as widely known. Let’s dig a little bit deeper into that.
How does diabetes increase 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 rises with age. Hearing loss is twice as prevalent in individuals with diabetes compared to individuals 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 result in nerve damage across various bodily areas, including the hands, feet, eyes, kidneys, and ears. The degeneration of the small blood vessels inside of your ears can be increased by high blood sugar levels. And on the other end of the spectrum, the transmission of nerve signals from the inner ear can be disrupted by low blood sugar. Worsened hearing loss can be the result of both scenarios.
The lack of diabetes management causes persistent high blood pressure, leading to damage to the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, nerves, and eyes.
Signs you might be dealing with hearing loss
Hearing loss often happens gradually and can go unnoticed if you aren’t actively paying attention. It’s not unusual for people close to you to observe your hearing loss before you notice it.
Here are a few signs of hearing loss:
- Constantly needing people to repeat what they said
- Having a tough time hearing in loud places
- Feeling like people are mumbling when they talk
- Always having to turn the volume up on your devices and TV
- Difficulty following phone conversations
If you encounter any of these challenges or if someone points out changes in your hearing, it’s essential to consult with us. We will conduct a hearing test that will establish a baseline for future assessments and also deal with any balance-related challenges.
Be proactive if your navigating diabetes
Getting a yearly hearing test is important, and that’s especially true for someone who has diabetes.
Keep your blood sugar levels within the desired range.
Make use of ear protection and steer clear of overly loud settings.