When you think of hearing loss risk factors, you often think of protecting your ears from the harmful loud noises of the outside world. But, there is a silent and internal risk factor you may not have been aware of— diabetes.
Did you know that people with diabetes have twice the incidence of hearing loss compared to those without diabetes? And those who are prediabetic have a 30% higher rate of hearing loss. Diabetes affects approximately 463 million adults worldwide between the ages of 20-79, with the prevalence of diabetes increasing with age. In the United States alone, over 30 million people have diabetes, and 1.5 million are diagnosed annually.
Understanding diabetes
Diabetes is a disease marked by high blood glucose levels resulting from defects in insulin production, insulin action, or both. The condition is also a significant underlying factor of heart disease and stroke. Diabetes is also the most common cause of kidney failure, lower limb amputations, and blindness in adults, and it has the potential to affect every major body system.
In pre-diabetic adults, markers of the disease are noted, but increasing physical activity and making dietary changes can often prevent or delay full onset.
The link between diabetes and hearing loss
Though the link between diabetes and hearing loss has long been observed, more extensive research studies have been performed over the last 15 years that suggest how the two conditions are linked and offer better data to understand the connection.
To understand the relationship, you must understand the intricacy of the inner ear. Sound waves enter the inner ear and transmit to a small, fluid-filled, snail-shaped organ called the cochlea, where the fluid moves in response to sound vibrations. As the fluid moves, 25,000 nerve endings (hair cells called cilia) transform the vibrations into electrical impulses that move along the auditory nerve and finally to the brain. The whole process is pretty amazing (we think so, anyway!).
The ears are complex and delicate structures. Diabetic neuropathy, how high blood sugar can damage nerves in the body, is commonly seen in the feet and legs of diabetic individuals. Researchers believe that diabetes damages nerve hairs in the same way as it affects nerves in other parts of the body.
Another proposed theory is that high blood sugar harms the small blood vessels of the inner ear, which are much like the systems that feed the eyes and kidneys. And as the blood vessel system is compromised, hearing is, too.
Steps you can take if you have diabetes to protect your hearing
If you are diabetic or pre-diabetic, the first proactive step you can take is to come to one of the two Hearing Aids of Sarasota locations (Sarasota and Doc Side Audiology in Longboat Key) for baseline hearing testing. Even if you don’t think you have a hearing loss, hearing can shift over time, like your vision. And, if you suspect you have even a slight hearing loss, the sooner we can diagnose it, the better we can treat it and take steps to lessen its impact.
Focusing on your general health will also help your hearing health. For example, taking daily walks or engaging in other physical activities and focusing on supporting a healthier lifestyle through dietary changes will protect your hearing from the damaging effects of high blood sugar.
At Hearing Aids of Sarasota and Doc Side Audiology, we are here to support happy and healthy lives. We’re your partner in hearing, and we encourage you to contact us for any hearing concerns or to schedule an annual evaluation.
