This November, Test Your Hearing in Honor of American Diabetes Month

Diabetes can have a severe impact on your health, especially when it comes to your hearing. The reality is that diabetes makes it easier for you to develop a range of other medical conditions — including hearing loss — that can impact your quality of life.

That’s why we’re encouraging people with diabetes or those at risk for developing the disease this November to take the time out for themselves and test their hearing during American Diabetes Month.

What is American diabetes month?

American Diabetes Month is a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of diabetes and the importance of prevention, detection, and treatment. The campaign began in 1980 as National Diabetes Month and involved more than 200 corporate partners and non-profits across the country. In 1981, it became an official month-long effort by Congress to recognize the importance of diabetes care management.

Today’s American Diabetes Month theme is “Today’s diabetes hits different” because it affects everybody differently but still requires a national effort to tackle.

Why is diabetes so dangerous?

Diabetes can cause serious health problems, including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and blindness. Diabetes can also damage the nerves that control your muscles. This is called diabetic neuropathy. And it can cause hearing loss.

Other health problems that may be related to diabetes include:

• Gastroparesis (stomach paralysis)
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Peripheral vascular disease (PVD)

Diabetes can affect many parts of your body — including your eyes — so it’s essential to keep up with regular eye exams and tests for other conditions like high cholesterol or high blood pressure. If you’re unsure whether you should get tested for these issues, talk to your doctor about whether it’s time for a checkup or screening test.

How can diabetes cause hearing loss?

Diabetes can damage the tiny blood vessels in your ears. High blood sugar levels can damage these tiny blood vessels, making it harder for oxygen to reach the inner ear and resulting in hearing loss.

Diabetes can also cause nerve damage. In people with type 1 diabetes, high levels of glucose trigger an autoimmune response that damages the nerves responsible for sending signals from your cochlea (the hearing organ) to your brain.

High blood pressure is another common risk factor for hearing loss. The American Heart Association reports that nearly 50 percent of adults who have diabetes are diagnosed with hypertension—high blood pressure—compared to only 20 percent of those without diabetes; this statistic is even higher among African Americans, 65 percent of whom have hypertension compared to just 24 percent of Caucasians.

What are the signs of hearing loss from diabetes?

• Trouble understanding speech in a noisy environment
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds
• Hearing loss in one ear or both ears.

If you have diabetes, you might have noticed that your hearing isn’t quite what it used to be. You’re not alone. Your risk of developing hearing loss increases with age, but it also has much to do with your blood sugar levels. That’s why people with diabetes need to protect their hearing as soon as possible.

What should you do if you think you have hearing loss?

If you think you have hearing loss, seek medical attention. A doctor can perform tests to determine the extent of your hearing loss and recommend treatment options. If you have a hearing deficit, there are many ways to help manage the condition. For example:

• Get a hearing test. Hearing tests are simple procedures that can be performed by a doctor or audiologist and pinpoint if you have any issues with your ears.
• Get a hearing aid or device. These devices make it easier to understand speech in noisy environments and allow people with normal-hearing levels to hear more clearly at home and at the job or school.
• Avoid loud noises whenever possible; many diseases cause damage through exposure over time. Take medication if necessary.

How can you prevent hearing loss?

• Avoid exposure to loud noises.
• Get a hearing test.
• Wear hearing protection when around loud noises if you can’t avoid them.

This November, Test Your Hearing in Honor of American Diabetes Month

The links between diabetes and hearing loss are clear, but what can people do to help prevent further damage? To start, you should get regular hearing checkups. Even if you’re not experiencing any symptoms of hearing loss right now, audiologists must monitor your ears for signs of future problems.

It’s also worth investing in earplugs or other protective devices so that you don’t have to worry about noise levels in public places such as restaurants or work. Finally, make sure that family members with diabetes understand how important it is for them to take good care of their ears too!

Contact us today to set up an appointment.