Can diabetes cause hearing loss

Diabetes is a condition that affects how your body handles sugar, or glucose. Most people know it can cause problems with the heart, kidneys, and eyes. But did you know diabetes can also affect your hearing? Many people are surprised to learn about this connection.

When blood sugar levels stay high for a long time, it can harm tiny blood vessels and nerves all over the body. The inner ear is especially sensitive because it has small hair cells that help you hear by picking up sound waves and sending signals to your brain. These hair cells need a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients from healthy blood vessels.

If diabetes damages these small blood vessels or nerves in the inner ear, the hair cells may not get what they need to work properly. This can lead to hearing loss—often called sensorineural hearing loss—which means trouble hearing soft sounds or understanding speech clearly.

Research shows that people with diabetes are about twice as likely to have hearing loss compared to those without diabetes. The risk goes up if blood sugar isn’t well controlled over time.

Hearing loss from diabetes usually happens slowly and might not be noticed right away. Some signs include asking others to repeat themselves often, turning up the TV volume higher than usual, or having trouble following conversations in noisy places.

The good news is there are ways to help protect your hearing if you have diabetes: keep your blood sugar under control as much as possible; get regular check-ups with an audiologist for early detection; and consider using hearing aids if needed.

Even though many think of hearing loss as just part of getting older, managing diabetes well could make a big difference in keeping your ears healthy too. If you have concerns about your hearing or notice any changes, talk with your doctor or an audiologist for advice on what steps you should take next.