Collin County Living Well Magazine Winter 2015 | Page 37

What’s the Link between
Hearing Loss and Diabetes?

A

ccording to the American Diabetes Association, it’s
estimated that 25.8 million Americans (children and
adults) have diabetes. That’s 8.3% of the population. There are certainly many complications from diabetes
that are well known such as heart disease, kidney disease,
blindness, stroke, high blood pressure, and peripheral neuropathy.

Additionally, one of the most common and yet least understood and diagnosed complication of diabetes is hearing
loss. In a 2008 study, it was found that diabetics have approximately a 30% higher incidence of hearing loss than
patients with normal blood sugar. Over 50% of those, who
participate