According to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), hearing loss is about twice as common in adults with diabetes compared to those who do not have the disease. After analyzing the results of hearing tests given to a nationally representative sample of adults in the U.S., researchers discovered a higher rate of hearing loss in those with diabetes. The test measured participants’ ability to hear low, middle, and high frequency sounds in both ears. The link between diabetes and hearing loss was evident across all frequencies, with a stronger association in the high-frequency range.
Nearly 30.3 MILLION PEOPLE in the U.S. have diabetes, and an estimated 48 MILLION have some type of hearing loss.
Hearing depends on small blood vessels and nerves in the inner ear. As blood sugar rises, there is a breakdown of nerves in the ears that cause tingling and other similar symptoms in the fingers and toes. As a result, patients with diabetes can experience these conditions.
Of the 84 million adults thought to have pre-diabetes, THE RATE OF HEARING LOSS IS 30% HIGHER than in those with normal blood sugar.
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