Is there a link between diabetes and hearing loss?
Hearing aids Chandler Gilbert Mesa Phoenix
Diabetes is extremely common – in fact, according to CDC estimates, about half of the US population has either diabetes or prediabetes (an earlier, milder form of the condition). If left untreated, diabetes can lead to complications like kidney damage, vision loss, and heart disease.
It can also impact your hearing. In fact, research has found that the risk of hearing loss is doubled in people with type 2 diabetes. How does diabetes impact hearing? What can you do to minimize the impact?
Diabetes impacts hearing in multiple ways
Diabetes can cause widespread nerve damage. This is how it leads to vision loss as well as impacting the feet. Nerve damage can occur in the ears as well, and impact the nerves that carry sounds from the ears to the brain. This is believed to be how diabetes increases the risk of hearing loss.
When blood sugar is high, the excess sugar sticks to proteins throughout the body and changes them. This can block tiny blood vessels throughout the body. Certain regions of the body have a lot of tiny blood vessels, including the nervous system, which has a very high blood supply due to the amount of energy it uses. In addition, high blood sugar directly changes proteins on the cells of the nervous system, which can impact their function. This is how high blood sugar damages nerves.
Low blood sugar can also cause nerve damage. The cells of the nervous system depend on sugar for energy. These cells have a very high need for energy, and when there’s not enough sugar in the blood to meet their needs, they can become damaged. People with diabetes sometimes experience low blood sugar due to the use of insulin or other medications.
Researchers are still working to learn more about the specific ways that diabetes damages hearing. In the future, we’ll likely learn more about the link between diabetes and hearing loss.
How can people with diabetes protect their hearing?
In order to prevent hearing damage as well as other complications of diabetes, it’s important to keep blood sugar under control. You’ll need to work with a medical professional to help you accomplish this. The goal is for you to spend as little time as possible with a high blood sugar level. At the same time, you’ll also need to prevent episodes of low blood sugar, which also cause damage and can even be life-threatening.
Even if you keep your diabetes under good control, you might still experience hearing loss. Presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, is also common. If you find that you’re experiencing possible signs of hearing loss, like frequently asking people to repeat themselves, turning up the TV or your phone to hear better, or frequently having people tell you that you speak too loudly, then it’s a good idea to get a hearing test. If you have hearing loss, then a hearing aid can make a huge difference in your quality of life and even your risk of dementia and falls.
Hearing aids Chandler Gilbert Mesa Phoenix
If you’re experiencing possible signs of hearing loss, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment for a hearing test as soon as you can. Your quality of life, relationships, and future brain health all depend on hearing well. It’s ideal to see a qualified audiologist, who has graduate-level training and is licensed to provide hearing health care.
Dr. Cassandra Fynes and Roger Knighton are both highly trained and skilled audiologists. If you’re in our area, please contact our office or call (480) 456-0176 to schedule an appointment here in our office.
