What is Hyperglycemia

Research has linked hearing loss to other medical conditions such as diabetes. Studies have shown that hearing loss is more common in individuals who have diabetes than in those who do not. Hyperglycemia, or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body's systems, especially the nerves and the blood vessels. Consequently, diabetes can affect the blood vessels of the inner ear and the vestibulocochlear (VIII cranial) nerve fibers. This case study examines the interrelationship between diabetes and hearing loss in an African American adult while examining the issues of the higher prevalence of diabetes in African Americans and the role of audiologists in the care of individuals with hearing loss and diabetes.