Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes have been associated with causing hearing loss in patients. What causes or contributes to hearing loss in people with diabetes isn’t clear. It’s known that high blood sugar can damage blood vessels throughout the body, including your ears. A complication of diabetes is nerve damage. It’s possible that damage to the auditory nerves could lead to hearing loss.

References

Diabetes and Hearing Loss
Over time, blood sugar levels that are too high or too low can damage nerves that affect your hearing. Learn how you can help prevent hearing loss if you have diabetes.
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/managing/diabetes-hearing-loss.html

ASL Resources for Deaf Awareness Month – September 2021
https://deafchildren.org/2021/09/asl-resources-deaf-awareness-month-sept-2021/

SUNY Downstate Medical Center. “Hearing impairment linked to type 2 diabetes,” Science Daily (April 22, 2016). https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160422163431.htm (accessed on 8/2/2020).

“Diabetes and Hearing Loss: What’s the Connection?,” Diabetes Self Caring, n.d. https://www.diabetesselfcaring.com/diabetes-and-hearing-loss/ (accessed on 8/2/2020).

Blass, Allison. “The 411 on Diabetes and… Hearing Loss?” Heathline (updated on June 1, 2018).
https://www.healthline.com/diabetesmine/the-411-on-diabetes-and-hearing-loss#1 (accessed on 8/2/2020).

Pietrangelo, Ann, and Joann Jovinelly; medically reviewed by Peggy Pletcher, MS, RD, LD, CDE. “The Connection Between Type 2 Diabetes and Hearing Loss,” Healthline (updated on August 20, 2018). https://www.healthline.com/health/type-2-diabetes/hearing-loss (accessed on 8/2/2020).

Shelley, TheLongPointGirl. “Is Diabetes Really The Culprit of Hearing Loss?” Type 2 Diabetes (February 14, 2020). https://type2diabetes.com/living/cause-hearing-loss/ (accessed on 8/2/2020).