Genetic predisposition, aging, and prolonged exposure to loud sound are all common factors that can contribute to hearing loss. But the connection between hearing loss and diabetes isn’t as well known. Let’s dig a little deeper into that.
How is your risk of experiencing hearing loss raised by diabetes?
As per the CDC, 9% or 37 million people in the United States are diagnosed with diabetes, and this prevalence increases with age. And if you have diabetes, you’re twice as likely to develop hearing loss. 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, encompassing the hands, feet, eyes, kidneys, and ears. The degeneration of the small blood vessels inside of your ears can be increased by elevated blood sugar levels. In contrast, low blood sugar levels can disrupt the transmission of nerve signals from the inner ear to the brain. Worsened hearing loss can be the outcome of both situations.
Damage to the kidneys, heart, nerves, eyes, and blood vessels can be caused by persistent high blood pressure resulting from uncontrolled diabetes.
Signs you may be dealing with hearing loss
If you aren’t 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:
- Perceiving others as mumbling
- Regularly needing people to repeat what they said
- Keeping the TV volume at a high level
- Struggling in noisy restaurants
- Trouble hearing on the phone
If you experience any of these challenges or if someone points out changes in your hearing, it’s worthwhile to consult with us. We will conduct a hearing examination that will establish a baseline for future assessments and also address any balance-related concerns.
Be proactive if your navigating diabetes
We encourage anybody with diabetes to get a yearly hearing check.
Keep control of your blood sugar levels.
Make use of ear protection and steer clear of overly loud settings.