Diabetes worsens hearing loss in older women

Mon, 30 Jan 2012
A new study from the United States has claimed that women who suffer from diabetes could face greater problems of hearing loss as they get older unless the condition is properly treated through medication.

The research, carried out at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, showed that women aged between 60 and 75 who were not able to properly manage their diabetes had more hearing issues than women of the same age that had their diabetes under control. It was also revealed that there was substantially worse hearing in all women under 60 who had diabetes than those without the condition. On the other hand, men of any age were found to have worse hearing loss as compared with women irrespective of whether they had diabetes or not.

The study involved the data from 990 patients that received an audiogram between 2000 and 2008, with diabetes patients in the group being divided into those who effectively controlled their condition and those who could not.

Researcher Derek J. Handzo commented "A certain degree of hearing loss is a normal part of the aging process for all of us, but it is often accelerated in patients with diabetes, especially if blood glucose levels are not being controlled with medication and diet."

He added "Our study really points to importance of patients controlling their diabetes, especially as they age, based on the impact it may have on hearing loss."

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