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

elderly couple camping with family

Your hearing health is a crucial dimension of your overall wellbeing. Not only does you hearing affect your communication ability and relationships, but it is part of the complex network of your physical, mental, and cognitive health. Experts have discovered a wide range of effects of hearing loss on these other aspects of wellbeing, ranging from the likelihood of cardiovascular disease and depression to cognitive decline and even dementia. When you think about the ways that your hearing ability is connected to these other aspects of health, one more element to add to the list is the likelihood of developing diabetes. Those who have diabetes have twice the rate of hearing loss as among those who do not have diabetes. Even those who have elevated blood sugar levels to qualify as pre-diabetes are at a 30 percent higher risk of hearing loss, as well. When you think about your risk of diabetes, you might not immediately think about getting a hearing test, but it turns out that this diagnostic assessment can serve as a warning sign of the potential for problems with blood glucose. Each November, we celebrate American Diabetes Month as an opportunity to rally support for those who have the condition, to give thanks to those who care for people with diabetes, to raise awareness about the disease, and to garner funds for diabetes research. In addition to these many activities in American Diabetes Month, why not add to the list a simple step—getting a hearing test? This exam can signal to your primary care physician and healthcare team that you might be at higher risk of diabetes. Let’s take a closer look at how this connection works within the body. 

Diabetes and Hearing Loss

As we have seen, those who have diabetes and pre-diabetes have much higher rates of hearing loss than their counterparts who do not have elevated blood glucose levels. Although we can understand this connection at the level of the entire population, that statistical finding doesn’t necessary let us know what is happening behind the scenes in the body. Hearing loss is connected to other bodily functions in ways that are not always evident, even to experts. When it comes to the connection with diabetes, there are a few possibilities. First, the heightened levels of blood glucose are enough to reduce the oxygen content in the bloodstream. The tiny, hairlike organelles of the inner ear, called stereocilia, are highly sensitive to fluctuations in oxygen supply. If they don’t get enough oxygen, they can easily become bent, broken, or otherwise damaged. In addition to this direct connection, diabetes can also lead to a greater chance of broken blood vessels. Broken blood vessels near the ears can indirectly cause a depleted supply of oxygen, as well. Beyond these relationships with the flow of oxygenated blood, diabetes can cause nerve damage. It is possible that diabetes or pre-diabetes could be damaging the auditory nervous system, which is responsible for translating what the ears hear into something the brain can perceive and interpret. Each of these possibilities requires further research to determine what is going on in the body to connect diabetes and hearing loss. While experts continue to explore these possibilities and others, the fact remains—getting a diagnosis of hearing loss can serve as a warning sign for diabetes, as well. 

This month, why not honor American Diabetes Month by scheduling a hearing test? Not only will you be setting yourself up to receive the treatment you need for your hearing, but you can also pass along this information to your primary care physician. When your healthcare team discovers that you have hearing loss, they might want to begin diagnostic testing for your blood glucose levels and other measures of diabetes. The sooner you find out that you have diabetes, the better able you will be to get treatment and manage the condition, so don’t delay. A hearing test might be the signal you need to find out that you have elevated blood glucose or one of the other many conditions that are connected to hearing loss. In the interconnected web of bodily functioning and wellness, a hearing test can help your general health. 

David Marsh
David Marsh
2021-09-01
Excellent service.
Gary Hawkins
Gary Hawkins
2021-08-22
Janiece knows her job. Very helpful
Tasha Benson
Tasha Benson
2021-03-18
Great service, very friendly
Gene Lanham
Gene Lanham
2021-03-15
I struggled with my new hearing aids--for over a year-Janiece identified the problem in 20 minutes---I can hear!!! Thanks Janiece!!!
Gary Brunson
Gary Brunson
2019-12-05
“Outstanding customer service with a big smile!!! Every other hearing specialist professional wanted me to make an appointment days out for repairing my Phonack aids. Sarah enthusiastically asked me if I could come in now! I highly recommend this business.”
rich ferrari
rich ferrari
2019-08-12
Very professional and knowledgable.They strive to provide the best choice of product for their customers needs. R ich Ferrari
Jim Gilmer
Jim Gilmer
2019-08-12
I always feel my needs are met and that Rincalina works with me to find the aides that work best at a very reasonable price. This is my go-to hearing aide dispensary.
Angela Ridgley
Angela Ridgley
2019-03-09
Janiece is a very caring, compassionate person but still professional. She put me into a pair of hearing aids that are amazing. I'm so happy. I've chosen to go to her for all of my hearing solutions! Thank you!
Sheryl Pearson
Sheryl Pearson
2017-12-24
Excellent and informed assistance