Stop for a moment and listen. These are the sounds that you hear in your surroundings everyday. Perhaps it’s the sound of music, the laughter of a child, or the sound of vehicles passing by. All these sounds will no longer be heard if you lose your hearing.
Unfortunately for many people, they experience hearing problems everyday. One of the most common culprits for this phenomenon is diabetes. So what is the link between diabetes and hearing loss?
The Diabetes and Hearing Loss Connection
Diabetes affects all parts of the body, which means that your ears are not exempted from this disease. Although there hasn’t been any clear and conclusive evidence to show how diabetes damages hearing, experts believe it’s more about circulatory issues.
Circulatory problems in the ears are not hard to imagine, considering that the blood vessels in the ears are tiny. If the blood becomes too sticky, due to the increase of glucose in the blood, then it is possible that the blood vessels in the ears can become less efficient and damaged.
Subsequently reduced blood flow makes it difficult for blood to enter the very tiny capillaries inside the cochlea. This can affect the delicate nerve structure of the ears. When damaged due to high blood glucose the person may experience tingling sensations in their ears.
Hearing damage among diabetics can occur before it is even realized, as the decline in the ability to hear is gradual and continues to steadily worsen if a person’s blood sugar levels are not managed well.
Eventually, damage to the structures of the inner ear caused by the insufficient blood flow can cause permanent hearing loss.
Other risk factors for hearing loss among diabetics are the presence of coronary artery disease and peripheral neuropathy. Experts emphasize that these risk factors are controllable, if the diabetes is managed and treated correctly, and in turn hearing loss may also be prevented.
How to Prevent Hearing Loss If Diabetic
There are behaviors that can significantly reduce the risks of hearing loss caused by diabetes. Even if diabetes is diagnosed, it is not too late to take remedial action.
Manage blood glucose levels.
Being diabetic, pre-diabetic or even high-risk means it is vital that you manage your blood sugar levels well. Knowing the added danger of losing hearing function gives another good reason to do so.
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey suggests that the risk of losing one’s hearing gets higher as blood sugar levels get worse.
Avoid cigarette smoking.
People who smoke also need to know that smoking is a risk multiplier for every damaging symptom of diabetes, greatly due to its impairment to effective oxygenation.
Nicotine, which is a common substance in cigarettes, is considered “ototoxic” which means it can cause damage to one’s hearing.
Reduce the impact of loud noises.
If you work in an environment where exposure to loud noise cannot be avoided, wear ear muffs to reduce its impact on your ears. If you’re mowing the lawn or need to go to concerts, use hearing protection.
Hearing loss is cumulative; if diabetes is already likely to have an effect, don’t worsen it by doing mechanical damage also.
Impacts of Hearing Loss
The effects of hearing loss are rarely fully appreciated until it happens, and then of course, it is often too late. If a diabetic’s hearing declines, their quality of life can deteriorate further as other health problems arise.
Stress and Anxiety
A hearing difficulty can affect a person’s emotional health. They may begin to feel extremely stressed, sad, anxious and/or depressed.
Isolation and Depression
Diabetics who have damaged hearing may find themselves slowly becoming less involved in conversations. They may withdraw from group conversations because it is too difficult to hear what others are saying. This withdrawal can increase their risk of depression.
Falling and Tripping
When a person’s hearing ability declines, their risk of falling may also increase. This is because their sense of balance can become adversely affected. Accidents seem to occur more around the bathroom areas and kitchen areas of a house or apartment. So try to arrange the furniture accordingly, to try and avoid tripping and falling.
