Long-term high blood sugar can damage the small blood vessels and nerves, impairing the inner ear’s ability to properly transmit sound signals to the brain. Conversely, prolonged low blood sugar can also disrupt how the inner ear sends nerve signals.
This explains why individuals with diabetes are about twice as likely to experience hearing loss compared to those without the condition.
Number 1. “Your breath starts to smell fruity”.
Fruity breath is a common symptom of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a serious diabetes complication. This occurs when your body lacks sufficient insulin to move glucose into your cells, causing your liver to instead break down fat for energy.
This fat breakdown process releases ketones, which are acids that increase the acidity of your blood – a life-threatening condition if left untreated. One of these ketones, acetone, is responsible for the distinctive fruity odor in the breath of people experiencing DKA.