This Morning: Type 2 diabetes can be 'devastating' says expert
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Diabetes type 2 would seem benign were it not for the threat of rising blood sugar levels – the main sugar found in blood. It is an important source of energy and provides nutrients to the body but having too much of it can inflict damage on the vessels that supply blood to vital organs, thereby increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. The pancreas is normally charged with regulating blood sugar – the organ secretes a hormone called that keeps a check on it. Noticing your level of hearing deteriorating could be a sign of the condition.
You could be at risk of the high blood sugar condition if you suddenly find it hard to hear other people clearly, it’s been claimed.
Gradual hearing loss could be a warning sign of diabetes type 2, scientists have claimed.
The exact link between hearing loss and diabetes isn’t entirely clear, but it could be caused by nerve damage to the auditory nerve, said Diabetes.co.uk.
Having prolonged high blood sugar can affect the supply of blood or oxygen to the nerves and blood vessels inside the ear.
Over time, these blood vessels become damaged, which affects the patient’s ability to hear properly, it said.
“Diabetes has been linked to the development of hearing problems in various research studies,” said Diabetes.co.uk.
Studies show that hearing loss is twice as common in people who have diabetes than in those who don’t.
Studies have analysed data from hearing tests of adults between the ages of 20 and 69.
They concluded that diabetes may contribute to hearing loss by damaging nerves and blood vessels.
Similar studies have shown a possible link between hearing loss and nerve damage.
Dr Amy Bibby said: “Some people may experience more unusual symptoms and signs of diabetes.
“It is usually a range and combination of different symptoms that a patient will experience before being diagnosed with diabetes and it will vary case to case.
“Blood vessels can become damaged if a patient has high blood sugar.
“Hearing loss can be another more unusual, pre-diabetic symptom in those who have higher blood sugar.
“This is due to the blood vessels and nerves of the ears which are more likely to be damaged and therefore cause a loss of hearing.”
It’s known that high blood sugar can damage blood vessels throughout the body, including your ears. If you’ve had diabetes for a long time and it isn’t well-controlled, there could be damage to the vast network of small blood vessels in your ears.
Evidence suggests that women with diabetes may experience greater hearing loss than those without the disease. This also applies to women with well-controlled diabetes.
Another complication of diabetes is nerve damage which may affect the auditory nerves leading to hearing loss.
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