Hearing loss and diabetes mellitus: Evidences of cochlear microangiopathy?

Abstract Background: Associations have been reported between diabetes mellitus and sensorineural hearing loss. Nonetheless, at the present time, the pathophysiological relationship between these two conditions is still unclear. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease that produces complications of vascular and neurological malfunction in those with the disorder; possible microvascular involvement of the inner ear has been proposed in order to explain this pathophysiological relationship. Objective and Methods: The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between diabetes mellitus and sensorineural hearing loss, through a PubMed database systematic review. Results and Conclusion: The association between diabetes and hearing loss still remains controversial. Large cohort studies are necessary in order to evaluate if diabetes mellitus causes specific changes in the inner ear, due to microvascular disease.