A new review published in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery reports that individuals with type 2 diabetes face a significantly elevated risk of hearing loss, particularly at higher frequencies. AACE President Scott D. Isaacs, MD, FACP, FACE, explains that adults with diabetes have an increased risk of hearing loss because high blood sugar damages the small blood vessels that supply the inner ear, leading to poor blood flow and nutrient delivery, which causes the delicate hair cells of the cochlea to deteriorate and results in sensorineural hearing loss, especially at higher frequencies. An important take-home message of the study is that hearing loss should be recognized as a microvascular complication of diabetes, for which screening and early detection are warranted as part of comprehensive diabetes care. Learn more by reading the full article on Medscape.