Hearing loss & diabetes have been notorious for being the two most widespread health concerns in America. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), there have been nearly 30 million people in the US that have diabetes and an estimated 34.5 million have some degree of hearing loss. There always seems to be an overlap or in their history when a hearing test comes up.
The relation between the two is the possibility of the high blood glucose levels associated with diabetes causes damage to the small blood vessels in the inner ear. That is the same way diabetes can also damage the eyes & kidneys. It is the reduced blood supply that hinders the body’s functionality.
There are 2 types of diabetes:
- Type 1 typically affects children & young adults. It usually consists of an autoimmune response where the body does not produce enough insulin, resulting in the patient to take insulin daily.
- Type 2 generally affects adults and is usually the more common of the two. It deeply impacts the circulatory systems throughout the body. It can cause strokes, heart attacks, kidney failures and HEARING LOSS.
Cited:
- https://www.asha.org/Articles/Hearing-Loss-and-Diabetes/
- http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/seniors/diabetes-and-hearing-loss.html