A Link Between Hearing Loss & Diabetes
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are approximately 422 million people living with diabetes globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The WHO defines diabetes as such:
“Diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease Diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose (or blood sugar), which leads over time to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves. The most common is type 2 diabetes, usually in adults, which occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn’t make enough insulin. In the past three decades the prevalence of type 2 diabetes has risen dramatically in countries of all income levels. Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin by itself.”
The WHO also states that there are around 466 million people worldwide living with disabling hearing loss. Approximately 48 million Americans report some degree of hearing loss, according to the Hearing Loss Association of America. You may not think of the connection between hearing loss and diabetes, but it is a medical condition that people living with diabetes develop often. If you have a loved one that you believe may be experiencing a hearing loss, look out for some of these common signs:
- Excessive volume of the television or radio
- Frustration during conversations because they cannot hear the other person
- They begin to withdraw from social gatherings with friends and/or family
- Ordering at a restaurant becomes difficult
Research on the Link between Hearing Loss & Diabetes
The Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit conducted a recent study with women 60 and over and discovered that hearing loss was worse in participants with type 1 and 2 diabetes compared to their counterparts that did not have diabetes. If your loved one has not displayed symptoms of hearing loss, there are steps you can take toward prevention.
Controlling Blood Sugar Levels
When the blood sugar level is too high, they are at greater risk for hearing loss. By controlling blood sugar, there is a decreased risk for damage done to their hearing. Eating a healthy diet low in sugar and carbohydrates and monitoring how much food is eaten can help. There are medications that can be taken.
Living a Healthier Lifestyle
By exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and getting plenty of nightly rest, a person with diabetes is living a lifestyle conducive to their wellbeing. They are also caring for their hearing health when they take these steps toward a healthy lifestyle.
Scheduling Regular Check-ups
It is important to schedule annual check-ups with your audiologist to be in regular communication about your hearing. Your hearing healthcare professional can notice early signs of hearing loss and make recommendations at the first signs. Disabling hearing loss is irreversible so they may be able to prevent it from getting worse if it is detected early on.
Seeking Treatment for Hearing Loss
If your loved one has a hearing loss, it does not mean there are no options available to them. They could benefit from a hearing aid, hearing assistive device, or cochlear implant, depending on their audiologist’s recommendation. Today’s hearing aids offer a variety features to suit the wearer’s needs, like the discreet design of the Silk by Signia / Siemens or the technological advancements of the Starkey Livio. They will allow your loved one to participate in conversation more fully and to reconnect with those from which they have isolated themselves. This can then lead to your loved one reintegrating themselves into society and enjoying their favorite activities once more.
There is a large population of people living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and a large population of people living with disabling hearing loss. Researchers are still conducting studies to see how the former can lead to hearing loss, but there are steps that can be taken to care for your hearing as a diabetic in the meantime.
Eating a healthy diet, exercising, and getting plenty of rest are all necessary ingredients in not only maintaining your overall health, but also the health of your hearing. Keeping in regular contact with your audiologist or other hearing health care professional for an annual hearing check-up is important, too. They can detect early signs of hearing loss and begin to educate you about options that may help you, like hearing aids, hearing assistive devices, or cochlear implants.
