Decades of research have established a strong link between diabetes and hearing loss, as well as tinnitus and balance issues. Diabetes is a condition that makes it difficult for cells to convert glucose from food into energy.
If not managed carefully, high blood sugar levels result and can cause problems with the entire body including hearing and balance. Even prediabetes increases the risk of hearing loss.

Researchers surmise that due to high blood sugar, tiny blood vessels in the inner ear constrict which disrupts the complex processes required to convert sound to neural signals for the brain. With tinnitus, it is believed that high blood sugar can also cause chemical imbalances in the inner ear’s fluid-filled cochlea. The specialized cells that vibrate in response to sound can become hyperactive and cause ringing and hissing sounds.

Hearing loss is not inevitable for people living with diabetes. In fact, there are many things one can do right away to preserve their hearing. Tuned can connect people with a doctor of audiology and provide an online hearing and balance screening. The audiologist will explain the results, provide tailored, hearing conservation strategies, identify additional risk factors and make appropriate referrals, including referrals to certified diabetes educators. For people with hearing loss already, the audiologist will help people learn how to prevent it from worsening and how to improve challenging listening situations.

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