Tinnitus, Hearing Loss, Diabetes and High Cholesterol

According to Dr. Richard Navarro, Board Certified Audiologist, over the last 40 years almost every patient who reported "hissing" tinnitus has a history of cardio-vascular disease. In some cases, sudden increases in tinnitus may be a sign of a change in blood sugar levels particularly hypoglycemia or low blood sugar.

Diabetics Have Increased Risk For Hearing Loss And Tinnitus

Posted: Sep 28, 2012 5:14 PM
Updated: Sep 28, 2012 5:40 PM

CORPUS CHRISTI - Diabetes affects millions of people of all ages. In South Texas about 10% of the population over the age of 20 is affected with Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes. Many more are unaware that they may be at risk. Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, African Americans, and the elderly are at higher risk.

While diabetes can be hereditary, a major risk factor for diabetes is being overweight. According to the Centers for Disease Control, over 31% of South Texans are considered obese. Diabetes can cause many complications including blindness, amputation of legs, kidney failure, hearing loss, and tinnitus. In addition, the presence of diabetes increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

In a retrospective analysis of 13 research studies presented at the 2011 meeting of the American Diabetes Association, Japanese researchers reported that hearing loss is more than twice as common in people with diabetes. The higher incidence of hearing loss among diabetics may be due to damage to the small blood vessels in the inner ear. If a diabetic also has high cholesterol levels which can clog the small inner ear blood vessels, the potential for hearing loss and tinnitus is further increased. High cholesterol levels have been known for many years to increase the risk of hearing loss.

According to Dr. Richard Navarro, Board Certified Audiologist, over the last 40 years almost every patient who reported "hissing" tinnitus has a history of cardio-vascular disease. In some cases, sudden increases in tinnitus may be a sign of a change in blood sugar levels particularly hypoglycemia or low blood sugar.
The local chapter of the American Diabetes Association will sponsor Step Out for Diabetes on Saturday October 13, 2012 at Whataburger Field.