Check Your Hearing This November for American Diabetes Month 

November is American Diabetes Month, a campaign to raise awareness about this chronic health condition. Over 34 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, making it one of the most common medical conditions experienced today. Research shows that people with diabetes can be twice as likely to develop hearing loss compared to people without it. This month is a great reminder to prioritize your health and you can do so by having your hearing checked!

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that impacts how the body turns food into energy. It affects the production or management of insulin – a hormone made by the pancreas which helps control blood sugar levels and metabolism. Food that is consumed is broken down into sugar (or glucose) which then enters the bloodstream. Insulin is then released to help the cells absorb the glucose, providing them with the energy needed to properly function. Diabetes can disrupt this process in a few ways depending on the type. There are three types of diabetes:

• Type 1: occurs when the body is unable to make insulin.
• Type 2: insulin is produced but it is either not enough or not working effectively.
• Gestational: this type of diabetes develops during pregnancy. Hormones make the body’s cells more resistant to absorbing insulin. This type usually only lasts during pregnancy.

The most common type of diabetes is Type 2, accounting for 90-95% of all cases of diabetes. Diabetes results in excess glucose remaining in the bloodstream which increases health risks, including the development of hearing loss.

Link Between Diabetes & Hearing Loss

Research reveals a link between diabetes and hearing loss. Studies show that diabetes can significantly increase the risk of developing hearing loss. This includes a 2008 study conducted by researchers at the National Institutes of Health. Researchers analyzed data from a national health survey that included 11,405 participants, ages 20-69. This data included results from hearing tests as well as a diabetes questionnaire. Researchers found that:

• 21% of people with diabetes had mid-frequency hearing loss  compared to 9% without diabetes
• 54% of people with diabetes had high-frequency hearing loss compared to 32% without
• People with pre-diabetes had a 30% higher rate of hearing loss

This study highlights a significant correlation between diabetes and hearing loss. Experts suggest that high blood glucose levels damage blood vessels throughout the body and this can include the small blood vessels in the inner ear. Additionally, diabetes can damage auditory nerves. These are critical components of the auditory system – the sensory system for hearing. This type of sustained damage disrupts the process of absorbing and processing incoming sound, producing hearing loss.

Signs of Hearing Loss

Recording the signs of hearing loss is a critical way to intervene early and address emerging symptoms. Hearing loss reduces a person’s ability to detect and process sound, producing a range of symptoms including the following:

• Tinnitus: a buzzing or ringing like noise that can be experienced in one or both ears
• Increasing the volume of electronic devices
• Frequently asking others to repeat what they’ve said, speak louder, or slower
• Sounds are muffled or slurred
• Difficulty hearing in environments with background noise, in conversations with multiple people
• Lip reading, missing parts of a conversation, pretending to hear
• Feeling fatigued after engaging with others

These symptoms can be experienced mildly to severely, depending on the degree of hearing impairment. Untreated hearing loss strains communication which often takes a toll on various aspects of life: relationships, job performance, social life, mental health, etc.

How to Protect Your Hearing Health

Fortunately, there are useful ways you can protect your hearing health which is particularly important for people with diabetes (or prediabetes). A few tips you can practice include:

• Have hearing tested: hearing tests measure hearing capacity in both ears which identifies any impairment and allows a hearing healthcare provider to recommend treatment options to meet your hearing needs.
• Wear hearing protection: earplugs, earmuffs, headphones, etc. offer the ears a protective barrier. This reduces how much noise is absorbed and the impact of loud noise.
• Reduce exposure: reducing exposure to loud noise can include maintaining lower volume settings on electronic devices, avoiding noisy settings, investing in noise-cancellation headphones, etc.

This month is a great reminder to prioritize your health by scheduling a hearing test. Call us to get started and learn more about hearing health!