Diabetes is an illness caused by the impairment of a person’s body to manufacture or respond to insulin, a hormone that facilitates the level of blood sugar in your body, making sure it doesn’t get too high or too low.

Approximately 30 million people in the US have diabetes and about 34.5 million suffer from a hearing impairment.

Though there is still debate on how these two are actually related and how one affects the other, throughout time with the help of research, and the skills of talented men and women, more information has shed light to this query.

The Relation

“Hearing should be considered a diabetes-related complication. Our research suggests a dose-response relationship.” -Yuri Agrawal, Otolaryngologist of John Hopkins University

It seems it’s no coincidence that both diabetes and hearing loss come together as the two most extensive health concerns in the USA.

Studies show that a person with diabetes is more likely to suffer from hearing loss than those without the illness.

One reveals that type 2 diabetes is the more likely culprit of hearing loss among diabetics, as majority of the patients being analyzed were diagnosed with type 2. It has been a known fact that high blood sugar could damage nerves and blood vessels around the body, and it is theorized that, among diabetics, the inner ear is not spared from this unfortunate mishap. Unlike other parts of the body, the inner ear is not equipped with a back-up supply of blood flow, so the damage becomes permanent and thus the hearing loss.

Prevention

It doesn’t hurt to take the necessary steps to steer clear of a disease or disorder and keep yourself physically healthy. Prevention is always better than having to go through it and suffer from the symptoms, then go into the possibly grueling process of remission.

As explained earlier by preventing diabetes we hit two birds with one stone.

• Make Water Your Primary Choice. Sugary beverages have all been linked to causing type 2 diabetes, so it is highly suggested that you turn in that can of soda for a glass of water. It’s cheaper and healthier.
• Stop Smoking. Smoking has been known to help cause many ailments and health disorders. While it is not the direct cause of diabetes, it increases the risk of catching the illness.
• Increase Your Vitamin D. Studies show that vitamin D deficiency increases the chances of diabetes.
• Exercise Regularly. Working up a sweat on a regular basis is important in preventing diabetes as this enables your insulin to function more efficiently.
• Watch the Food You Eat. Eat and drink only the optimal and suggested intake of sugary foods and beverages.
• Eat a Lot of Fiber. Research in patients suffering from diabetes indicate that fiber, blood sugar, and insulin levels are low. Fiber also promotes a gradual rise in blood sugar.
• Lose the Processed Food. Research shows that people with diets dominant in processed foods were more likely to be at risk of diabetes by 30%.

While there’s no guarantee we can completely avoid hearing loss, maintaining our health is the best way. The incremental efforts to having a nourishing lifestyle will eventually increase the chances eluding this condition. For more tips on how you can prevent hearing loss, contact Beltone DFW at (888) 958-8432.