A data analysis of a government health study, conducted from 1999 to 2004. revealed that people with diabetes may be more prone to developing hearing problems.

Among people with diabetes who were part of the study (representing 8 percent of the total number of participants), 54 percent had at least mild hearing loss in their ability to hear high-frequency tones, compared with only 32 percent of those with no history of diabetes. Moreover, 21 percent of participants with diabetes had at least mild hearing loss in their ability to hear low-to-mid frequency tones, compared with nine percent of those without the disease.

Researchers posit that diabetes may damage blood vessels or nerves in the ear, although there is currently not enough evidence to prove this connection.