Should Hearing Health Be Part of Diabetes Management?

Diabetes is a public health issue and is a major problem that is facing our population right now. You might be surprised to learn that more than 29 Million people in the United States of America have diabetes, out of which a shocking 8.1 Million cases are undiagnosed. Every year, more than 2 million diabetics are added to the count, making it a serious health problem for people in this country.

Surprisingly, people with diabetes are more than twice as likely to develop hearing loss. This means that hearing loss may be a good indicator of diabetes. It should be noted that the percentage of Americans aged 65 and older who have diabetes is nearly 26%, which is approximately 12 Million seniors. Since this is the age at which hearing loss is the most common, a clear link can be easily drawn.

Diabetes & Hearing Loss

Based on these facts and the findings from several researches done to solidify the connection between diabetes and hearing loss, Professor Hirohito Sone of the Department of Internal Medicine, Niigata University School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan urges people to include hearing health in diabetes management.

“Our findings support routine hearing screenings for people with diabetes starting at an earlier age than for people without the disease,” Professor Sone says. “This is very important from a preventive healthcare perspective. We want to stop untreated hearing loss from potentially leading to other health problems, like depression or dementia, which would make the diabetes burden even greater.”

Some experts believe that high blood glucose levels existing in diabetes patients can damage the tiny blood vessels and nerves in the inner ear. This process happens over a passage of time and is accelerated if the patient’s diabetes is not managed well. According to a study by Kathleen L. Yaremchuk, MD, Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, women between the ages of 60 and 75 with poorly controlled diabetes had worse hearing than those whose diabetes was well controlled.

How to Improve Hearing Health

Hearing loss is common in aging people; however, with a few health measures, the progress of the deterioration can be slowed. Getting an annual examination of hearing can prove to be highly beneficial in picking up signs of hearing loss and the possibility of diabetes. If hearing loss is diagnosed, carefully consider the options put forward by your healthcare practitioner. Treating hearing loss can improve your quality of life, whereas, leaving it untreated can lead to a myriad of other health problems, including diabetes, dementia, and cognitive decline.

Keeping your blood sugar level under control can be an effective measure of protecting your hearing, vision and heart. Monitor your daily sugar intake and seek medical assistance if you suspect having diabetes. Apart from that, participate in other healthy activities, such as exercise, and stay away from bad habits, like smoking. Don’t forget to wear ear plugs if you’re in a noisy environment.