Hearing loss due to diabetes and pre-diabetes is often overlooked. Most people are aware that hearing loss can be caused by aging, repeated exposure to loud noise, and even one very loud noise event, high blood sugar is not readily connected to hearing loss.
According to Statistics Canada, In 2017, 7.3% of Canadians aged 12 and older (roughly 2.3 million people) reported being diagnosed with diabetes. A famous study, the Bainbridge study of 2008 looked at adults between the ages of 20 and 69 and found a higher odds ratio of 1.82 of having hearing loss in the diabetes population. This was found to be regardless of age, sex, race, ethnicity, or education level.
People with prediabetes (higher blood sugar levels than normal but not type 2 diabetes levels) have a 30% higher rate of hearing loss than people with normal blood sugar levels.
Hearing loss is twice as common in people who have diabetes as it is in people of the same age who don’t.
Diabetes commonly leads to nerve damage that affects many parts of the body. Most affected are the hands, feet, eyes, and kidneys. Over time, high blood sugar levels can damage the capillaries (small blood vessels) reducing blood flow while causing damage to the nerves in the inner ear. Conversely, low blood sugar over time can damage how the nerve signals travel from the inner ear to your brain.
Hearing loss most often happen slowly over a long period of time. Gradual changes in hearing are hard to notice. It’s common to have friends and close family members notice a person’s hearing loss before they do.
Typical signs of hearing loss:
The best way to speak with a person experiencing hearing loss is to be directly in front of them.
Like most problems associated with diabetes, managing blood sugar levels is essential. Regular hearing tests are important as well. Every year, when booking an eye appointment to have your eyes checked for diabetes related complications, book a hearing test as well. Regular testing intervals help establish a trend in test results that makes diagnosis easier.
When you first find out you have diabetes, have your hearing tested to establish a baseline of your normal hearing levels.
As mentioned above, anyone with diabetes should consider having a hearing test once they are diagnosed. Having a reference level makes and early diagnosis much easier allowing for early treatment. To book a hearing test, send us a message through the form on this page or call us at (204) 788-1083. Thanks for reading!
Yes, tinnitus can worsen over time if the underlying causes are left untreated. Many factors…
Never Give Up on Your Partner Getting Treated for Hearing Loss I now know the…
Investing in hearing aids can lead to a brighter, more fulfilling future. Just like how…
Can Earwax Cause Hearing Loss? Have you ever had your hearing feel muffled and reduced…
Rediscovering the Lost Sounds with New Hearing Aids For many individuals, hearing loss happens gradually…
Tinnitus can be temporary or permanent and both have one thing in common. They need…
