DIABETES AND HEARING LOSS – WHAT’S THE CONNECTION?

Diabetes can affect hearing loss by damaging nerves used in hearing.

Created 26 October 2022

Hearing loss

Did you know that diabetes can affect your hearing? If your blood sugar levels are off, it can damage nerves that are used to help you hear, according to the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC).
 
When you have diabetes, your body’s ability to turn food into energy is compromised. In other words, your body isn’t very good at creating insulin, so too much sugar stays in your bloodstream. There is no cure for diabetes, but it can be managed with medication. 

According to the CDC, Diabetes can cause nerve damage throughout your body – and your ears are no exception. Over time, small blood vessels in your inner ear can get damaged from high blood sugar levels. When your blood sugar is low, it can also affect how nerve signals travel from the inner ear to your brain. In both cases, this can lead to hearing loss. 

In fact, the CDC states that hearing loss is twice as common in people with diabetes. 

Are you having trouble hearing? Try our online hearing test.