Each year, November 14th is dedicated to World Diabetes Day—a time to raise awareness about diabetes and its effects on overall health. While you may be aware of the impact diabetes has on areas like blood sugar and heart health, you may not know how it affects hearing.
Understanding the connection between diabetes and hearing health is crucial for patients managing this condition. Let’s explore how diabetes impacts hearing and how you can protect your auditory health.
How Can Diabetes Lead to Hearing Loss?
Diabetes affects over 38 million people in the United States, and patients with diabetes are twice as likely to develop hearing loss.
Researchers aren’t exactly sure why diabetes and hearing loss are connected, but many believe it has to do with the way diabetes affects small blood vessels and nerves throughout the body, including those in our ears.
Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage small blood vessels and nerves in the ear. Low blood sugar can damage how nerve signals travel properly through the ear. Both types of damage can lead to hearing issues or even permanent hearing loss (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024).
Managing Diabetes to Reduce Hearing Loss Risk
While there’s no surefire way to prevent hearing loss entirely, managing diabetes is a significant step toward protecting hearing health. Here are some ways to manage diabetes effectively:
- Maintain blood sugar levels. Regularly check your blood sugar levels and follow a balanced diet, as stable blood sugar is crucial in preventing damage to blood vessels that support healthy hearing.
- Exercise regularly. By improving insulin control, regular physical activity can help people with diabetes keep their blood sugar levels in a healthier range.
- Follow your diabetes plan. Take prescribed medications and attend regular check-ups to monitor and adjust your treatment plan.
If You Notice Symptoms, Schedule a Hearing Test
Symptoms like ringing in the ears, muffled sounds or trouble understanding people in conversation may be signs of hearing loss. Scheduling a hearing test is a simple way to get a clearer picture of your hearing health. A hearing test can help you catch any changes early on, so you can make the best decisions about protecting your hearing.
If you have developed hearing loss, treatment options including hearing aids can help you hear speech and important background information to help you stay connected to the world around you.
World Diabetes Day is the perfect time to take charge of your diabetes, including its effect on hearing. For more information about caring for your hearing health, call the experts at Midwest Hearing today.