{"id":1727,"date":"2023-06-08T00:30:37","date_gmt":"2023-06-08T00:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nalent.com\/?p=1727"},"modified":"2023-06-08T00:30:38","modified_gmt":"2023-06-08T00:30:38","slug":"why-its-important-to-protect-your-hearing-if-you-have-diabetes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nalent.com\/why-its-important-to-protect-your-hearing-if-you-have-diabetes\/","title":{"rendered":"Why It\u2019s Important to Protect Your Hearing if You Have Diabetes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Different health conditions can increase your risk of developing hearing loss<\/a>, including diabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n

What is Diabetes? <\/h2>\n\n
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Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects your body\u2019s ability to either produce or use insulin, which causes high blood sugar (glucose) levels. There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes, which occurs when pregnant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, you can have prediabetes, where your blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n

How Diabetes Can Cause Hearing Loss<\/h2>\n\n\n

Uncontrolled diabetes can cause you to have too much glucose in your bloodstream. After a while, this can cause serious health problems, including weakening the blood vessels of the ear. This can damage the hair cells of the inner ear and cause permanent hearing loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research has established a link between diabetes and hearing loss. This includes a study published in 2021 that found individuals with diabetes had twice the<\/a> <\/a>incidence of hearing loss<\/a> as those without diabetes. Additionally, they found that even having prediabetes came with a 30% higher rate of hearing loss.<\/p>\n\n\n

Manage Your Blood Sugar Levels to Protect Your Hearing<\/h2>\n\n\n

If you have diabetes or prediabetes, taking the proper steps to control your blood sugar is not just necessary for your overall health but to protect your hearing as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your first step is to have regular appointments with your primary care provider and follow any instructions regarding taking insulin or other medications as prescribed, as well as regularly checking your blood sugar levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, there are lifestyle changes you can make to help keep your blood sugar at more optimal levels, regardless of whether you have diabetes or prediabetes. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n