Table of Contents
Medical Watch Digest for Nov 10
Type 2 Diabetes & Hearing Loss
A common disease may rob patients of hearing.
There is a link between Type 2 diabetes and hearing loss.
The American Academy of Otolaryngology reports on the connection and the lack of screening. Seventeen different studies found a similar link. Patients with Type 2 diabetes are five times more likely to experience hearing loss.
The hearing damage was more pronounced the longer patients were living with diabetes.
Doctors say poor glucose control leads to hearing impairment by altering blood supply in the cochlea changing the inner ear structure.
Experts recommend those with type 2 diabetes work to manage their disease and have regular hearing screenings.
Study links low choline levels & anxiety disorders
Low choline levels may impact mental health.
University of California Davis researchers found people with anxiety and panic disorders have lower levels of choline in the brain.
The essential nutrient can be found in eggs, soybeans, brussels sprouts, broccoli and kale.
Researchers scanned the brain to detect choline.
Lower choline levels were consistent in the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that helps with thinking, emotions and behavior.
The chemical pattern in the brain of people with anxiety was not present in the control group.
More Coverage: WGN’s Medical Watch
Sticker can measure vitamin levels
A sticker can measure vitamin levels in the body.
Created by UC San Diego scientists, the sticker turns touch into a health sensor.
Engineers attached the sticker to a cup.
When people hold it, sweat from their fingertips reveals vitamin c levels without blood draws or lab visits.
They say it’s especially helpful to monitor vitamin deficiencies easily and consistently.
Vitamin C is critical for immune function, tissue repair and iron absorption.
The sticker sends results wirelessly to a nearby laptop.
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