Individuals diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes face a hearing loss risk four times greater compared to those without the condition. This is the conclusion reached by researchers from the University of Barcelona, whose findings are detailed in the journal Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS).
A meta-analysis encompassing 17 separate studies, involving nearly eight thousand participants, established that hearing impairments affect between 40% and 70% of diabetic patients. The most pronounced deviations were observed at higher frequencies, with this group exhibiting mean hearing levels poorer than the control cohort by 3.2 decibels.
Furthermore, the analysis revealed that these risks escalate with longer disease duration—exceeding ten years—and in cases of elevated HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin) levels. This underscores a clear relationship linking hearing degradation to insufficient blood sugar management.
The scientists posit that chronic hyperglycemia triggers adverse microvascular alterations within the inner ear. Specifically, this leads to a thickening of the basilar membrane, compromised nutrient supply to the cochlea, and a gradual atrophy of the stria vascularis. Collectively, these physiopathological changes impair the functionality of auditory receptors, resulting in a progressive and frequently permanent deterioration of hearing.
A decline in auditory acuity should thus be regarded as an early indicator of diabetic vascular complications, making diligent monitoring of this marker crucial for disease detection.
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