Does diabetes affect hearing?

Diabetes is a group of clinical syndromes caused by the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Absolute or relative lack of insulin secretion and decreased sensitivity of target tissue cells to insulin cause a series of metabolic disorders such as sugar, protein, fat, water and electrolytes. Hyperglycemia is the main clinical sign, and chronic illness can cause damage to multiple systems. Acute metabolic disorders such as ketoacidosis can occur when the condition is severely punished or under stress.

The clinical types of diabetes can be divided into type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes mostly occurs in young people. The clinical characteristics are rapid onset, more obvious symptoms such as polyphagia, polyuria, polydipsia, weight loss, and ketosis. The tendency of acidosis must rely on insulin therapy to maintain life. The positive rate of islet cell autoantibodies in the blood is high at the beginning of the disease. Oral glucose islet release test shows that the basal insulin level is lower than normal, and the insulin secretion curve after glucose stimulation is low, indicating insulin deficiency.

Type 2 diabetes can occur at any age, but it is more common in middle and old age after the age of 40. Most patients have a slow onset, with relatively mild or absent clinical symptoms. There is no tendency for ketoacidosis, but ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar coma can also occur under certain incentives. Generally, oral hypoglycemic drugs can be used to control blood sugar, but when the diet and oral hypoglycemic drugs are not effective, or due to complications and concomitant diseases, insulin is also needed to control hyperglycemia. Pancreatic islet cell autoantibodies are often negative. Fasting plasma insulin levels can be normal, slightly lower or higher than normal. The insulin response to glucose stimulation can be slightly lower, basically normal or higher than normal, and the peak secretion is delayed.

Experts say that there are many complications of diabetes. Hearing loss has become a complication of diabetes. Some people with diabetes have hearing loss. Hearing loss caused by diabetes, and even sudden deafness is more common.

The capillaries in the ears of diabetic patients or the nerves connecting the ears and the brain have atrophy, which causes this result. Nerve and vascular diseases are one of the common complications of diabetes. Diabetes increases the risk of renal function decline, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, nerve damage and vision loss. When blood sugar is at a high level, blood vessels in the ears may be damaged, thereby impairing hearing.

Experts reminded that the six signs of hearing impairment in diabetic patients should be consulted as soon as possible.

1. Always can't hear other people's words clearly. When chatting with others, I often miss some information and fail to answer the questions of my peers. This is also a sign of hearing loss.

2. Let others repeat. The same thing is often unintelligible, asking others to repeat it, or family members find that they are talking very loudly with sugar friends.

3. Always feel that others are talking to themselves. Seeing other people's lips moving, but not being able to hear what they are saying, is actually an illusion.

4. Can't hear the sharp treble. Men and women speak different tones. Men’s vocal cords are long and wide, and their voices are strong and deep; women and children’s vocal cords are short, narrow, and their voices are sharp and sharp. Diabetic patients with impaired hearing are often insensitive to high and thin voices and often cannot hear women.

5. The normal volume is too low. When listening to the radio or watching TV, the sugar-lovers at the comfortable volume of others cannot hear them clearly.

6. In a noisy environment, it is even more unintelligible. In noisy environments such as shopping malls, train stations, airports, etc., my brain is always dull and I can't hear the information I want.

If you find that the elderly have hearing loss, you should take the elderly to test and fit hearing aids in time. Wearing hearing aids can help protect residual hearing, help the brain respond, and reduce Alzheimer’s.

This will delay the residual hearing loss of the elderly and make them willing to contact the outside world without being withdrawn.