According to the Better Hearing Institute, “Patients with diabetes are more than twice as likely as those without the disease to have hearing loss.” Within the study more than 40% of the patients with diabetes had some degree of hearing loss.
“For years, physicians who treat people with diabetes have regularly ensured that their patients receive regular vision check-ups. This important study underscores the need for physicians to encourage each of their patients to get their hearing checked as well. Both vision loss and hearing loss are associated with diabetes.”
DEHEC – S.C. ranks 10th highest in the nation in the percent of population with diabetes.
-Approximately 1 in 8 African-Americans in S.C. have diabetes – the 16th highest rate of diabetes among African-Americans in the nation.
-The prevalence of diabetes increases with age – a dramatic increase can be seen among those 45 years of age and older.
-Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in S.C. after heart disease, cancer, accidents, stroke, chronic lower respiratory disease, and Alzheimer’s.