By: Fran Springer
Diabetes and hearing loss are two of America’s most widespread health concerns. In an article by the American Diabetes Association, nearly 30 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, and an estimated 34.5 million have some type of hearing loss. A recent study found that hearing loss is twice as common in people with diabetes as it is in those who don’t have the disease. Also, of the 84 million adults in the U.S. who have prediabetesa condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal but are not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. People with prediabetes are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes and for heart disease and stroke. Other names for prediabetes are impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glucose.X, the rate of hearing loss is 30 percent higher than in those with normal blood glucosethe main sugar found in the blood and the body’s main source of energy. Also called blood sugar.X.
More research needs to be done to discover why people with diabetes have a higher rate of hearing loss. It’s possible that the high blood glucoseThe food you eat gets digested and broken down into a sugar your body’s cells can use. This is glucose, one of the simplest forms of sugar. levels associated with diabetes cause damage to the small blood vesselstubes that carry blood to and from all parts of the body. The three main types of blood vessels are arteries, veins and capillaries.X in the inner ear, similar to the way in which diabetes can damage the eyes and the kidneys.the two bean-shaped organs that filter wastes from the blood and form urine. The kidneys are located near the middle of the back. They send urine to the bladder.X.
Since it can happen slowly, the symptoms of hearing loss can often be hard to notice. In fact, family members and friends sometimes notice the hearing loss before the person experiencing it. Annual hearing examinations are recommended. Take care of your health and call today to schedule an appointment.
