Researchers Study the Effect of Diabetes on Hearing Loss

A new study recently concluded that there is no significant difference in the prevalence of hearing impairments between people with and without type 1 diabetes. Researchers studied 1,150 participants with type 1 diabetes and about 300 of their spouses who did not have the condition. No difference was detected with hearing ability between the two groups. However, among participants with type 1 diabetes, a higher mean HbA1c level over time was associated with hearing impairments.

This research project was the largest of its kind. The research team recruited individuals from a large-scale diabetes study, which has been following the lives of people living with type 1 diabetes for over 30 years. Still, more research is needed to better understand the relationship between diabetes and hearing impairment.

These findings were published in Diabetes Care on August 23, 2018.