Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
What you eat is affects your health. That is why the theme for American Diabetes Month is Eat Well, America, and Stop Diabetes!® How does what you eat affect you? We know that what you eat affects your blood glucose and elevated blood sugar levels lead to prediabetes and diabetes. We know that elevated blood glucose levels can cause damage from head to toe. Diabetes can affect your eyes, brain, heart, kidneys, legs and feet. Did you know that high blood glucose levels can also affect your ears and hearing? It can. Diabetes and hearing loss are two of the most prevalent health concerns in America. The two groups have a lot of overlap. About 30 million children and adults have diabetes and approximately 34.5 million people have some degree of hearing loss. There are many people with prediabetes and diabetes that also have hearing loss. Diabetics are more than twice as likely to have hearing loss, than those who do not have diabetes. The 86 million adults in the United States with prediabetes have a 30% greater chance of hearing loss than those who have normal blood glucose. That is a lot of people. If you have prediabetes or diabetes, how can you tell if your hearing has been affected if it is not checked? If you have diabetes, eye exams, heart exams and foot exams are routine. If you have prediabetes or diabetes, hearing exams should also be routine.
There are two types of diabetes. In type 1 diabetes the body does not make enough insulin. This can happen at any age. At this time there is nothing that is known to prevent type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs in about 5% of adults diagnosed with diabetes. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body can not use insulin the way it should. This can also happen at any age. Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes may be often be prevented or at least delayed. About 95% of adults diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. In the past type 2 diabetes typically appeared in middle age. Now prediabetes and type 2 diabetes is appearing earlier affecting our teens and children. Type 2 diabetes usually occurs because of lifestyle choices that we make each day for ourselves and our families. Diabetes can lead to serious health risks such as: vision changes, blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, changes in hearing, loss of toes, feet or legs. It is important to recognize symptoms of diabetes including:
• increased thirst
• frequent urination
• nightime urination
• blurry vision
• change in hearing
• unusual fatigue
If you or a family member experience symptoms of diabetes, contact your family physician.
Research is being done to find out how diabetes and hearing loss are related. Hearing depends on small blood vessels in the inner ear. It may be that over time elevated blood glucose levels associated diabetes damages the small blood vessels in the inner ear and nerves and diminishes the ability to hear.
Changes in hearing usually occur slowly over time. Often hearing changes are noticed by your family and friends long before you may notice that you are having difficulty hearing. You should have your hearing checked if:
• others mumble or slur their speech
• you often ask others to repeat what they said
• you move closer, lean in or cup your hand over
your ear during conversations
• your family complains the TV is too loud
• you have trouble hearing on the phone
• you have difficulty hearing in noisy places, like restaurants
• you avoid social situations
If you have prediabetes or diabetes, have your hearing checked.
We can choose to eat well at home and when we go out. We can become more physically active and have fun. By eating well and getting more active we can have healthier lives and healthier families. Let’s make the move towards better health. Eat Well, America, and Stop Diabetes!®
Audiology & Hearing Care of SWFL
24810 Burnt Pine Drive, Suite 2
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
866-740-6274
