Hearing Loss And Diabetes – What You Should Know!
One of the most notorious modern-day killers, diabetes is a disease which is deceptively innocuous in its development. What first begins as feelings of fatigue, dizziness and nausea, are quick to compound into a vast hoard of ailments, many of which can even be life-threatening if not diagnosed on time. High blood glucose levels are the mainstay of this disease, triggering its onset in the vulnerable, and also complicating it until diabetes leaves virtually no part of the body untouched. However, the most alarming aspect about these developments is that they, like diabetes, are surreptitious in their growth, often leaving the victim in the dark until they are at their mature, and most devastating, phases.
High glucose levels, which are the hallmark of diabetes, are also fertile ground for a host of other diabetes related complications. The reason behind this lies in the thickening of the arteries this glucose-satiated blood leads to which impairs circulation, hampering the processes of oxidation and nourishment. Extremely high blood glucose also causes tremendous nerve damage which, in turn, impairs sensation and responsiveness to stimulus.
The vascular tissues in the ear are amongst the first and most dramatically affected when diabetes strikes. The narrowness of the capillaries in this region also means that the diabetes-caused damage is a lot higher. These tissues play an irreplaceable role in the process of hearing, and thus the damage that diabetes brings about directly impacts the auditory ability of the individual. The poor blood circulation also impacts both the outer and the inner ear, destroying the outer ear cells which magnify sounds picked up by the cochlea, while also causing micro-vascular damage to the inner ear. Over time, this damage develops until it results in a palpable loss of hearing and even deafness.
Auditory damage can be detected only when the cochlea is inspected which, given its positioning inside the temporal lobe is impossible unless the individual is surgically examined. Further, the brainstem and cortex which determine the extent of damage to the neural pathways are also obscured to the naked eye, which makes surgery the only feasible option if this complication is to be diagnosed.
External tests to estimate the extent of auditory damage are also misleading, as the loss of hearing which these tests discern may be a lot lower than the actual amount of damage diabetes has brought about. This questionable accuracy of clinical evaluation makes it even more difficult to deem the extent to which the hearing has been impaired and thus accord the appropriate medical treatment.
Diabetes also goes on to affect the auditory nerve, which relays auditory signals transmitted from the cochlea to the brain. This damage delays the brain's reaction time to these auditory signals, making it difficult for the individual to comprehend complex patterns such as speech. Thus, as the auditory damage continues to develop, the victim experiences severe debilities in his communication, which are further compounded by the confusion this process leads to.
As of today, the most effective way to counter this auditory damage is to schedule a regular pattern of testing with your physician. This simple step will go a long way in allowing you to arrest any signs of hearing loss before it progresses to its more severe and even permanent stage. However, preventing this complication from arising at all is a lot easier and less stressful than waiting for this condition to arise before taking any curative steps. And hence, if you are still lax about keeping your blood glucose within the prescribed range, there's no better time than right now to the diabetic principles of monitoring your dietary intake, exercise, medication and regular testing of your blood glucose. Assume responsibility of your diabetes today - it will go a long way in ascertaining a long, healthy and fulfilling life!