2012 Volume 55 Issue 3 Pages 182-189
To determine the influence of diabetes-related factors on hearing, we analyzed the data of 90 middle-aged and older patients who were participating in an inpatient diabetes education program at the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology. Statistical analysis was performed to identify factors associated with the hearing level for 9 frequencies using stepwise multiple regression; the independent variables included in the statistical model were age, sex, history of lifestyle-related diseases, smoking history, history of insulin usage, diabetes duration, fasting blood glucose level on admission, HbA1c, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, diabetic retinopathy, history of ear diseases, and occupational noise exposure. Among the diabetes-related factors, history of insulin usage was found to have a statistically significant detrimental effect on hearing over a wide frequency range. Comparison of the groups with and without a history of insulin usage revealed significant elevation of the hearing thresholds at 1000, 2000 and 3000 Hz in the group with a history of insulin usage . The impact of diabetes on hearing was discussed was discussed in the context of previous epidemiological studies, histopathological analyses and reported hypothetical mechanisms.
