Hearing loss is about twice as common in adults with diabetes compared to those who do not have the disease, according to a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health.

"Hearing loss may be an under-recognized complication of diabetes. As diabetes becomes more common, the disease may become a more significant contributor to hearing loss," said senior author Catherine Cowie, Ph.D., of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, who suggested that people with diabetes should consider having their hearing tested. "Our study found a strong and consistent link between hearing impairment and diabetes using a number of different outcomes."

The researchers discovered the higher rate of hearing loss in those with diabetes after analyzing the results of hearing tests given to a nationally representative sample of adults in the United States. The test measured participants' ability to hear low, middle and high frequency sounds in both ears. The link between diabetes and hearing loss was evident across all frequencies, with a stronger association in the high frequency range. Mild or greater hearing impairment of low- or mid-frequency sounds in the worse ear was about 21 percent in 399 adults with diabetes compared to about 9 percent in 4,741 adults without diabetes. For high frequency sounds, mild or greater hearing impairment in the worse ear was 54 percent in those with diabetes compared to 32 percent in those who did not have the disease.

Adults with pre-diabetes, whose blood glucose is higher than normal but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis, had a 30 percent higher rate of hearing loss compared to those with normal blood sugar tested after an overnight fast.

The study was published online June 17 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The researchers analyzed data from hearing tests administered from 1999 to 2004 to participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Half of the 11,405 survey participants aged 20 to 69 were randomly assigned to have their hearing tested, and nearly 90 percent of them completed the hearing exam and the diabetes questionnaire. The hearing test, called pure tone audiometry, measures hearing sensitivity across a range of sound frequencies.

- National Institutes of Health.

WINNING QUESTION

Q: Are iced-coffee drinks a sensible treat if I'm watching my weight?

A: A simple iced coffee or even an iced latte made with skim milk isn't a problem if you leave out added flavorings and whipped cream and choose the smallest size.

A 12-ounce iced latte or cappuccino made with skim milk usually contains about 130 calories; if made with 2 percent milk it might be closer to 160 calories. But if you add flavored syrups, whipped cream topping and other ingredients, the calorie content rises sharply.

Portion size is key. The largest size at most of today's popular coffee bars is usually 24 ounces, sometimes more. Order a large, and you could be getting up to 700 calories, lots of additional fat and almost a half-cup of sugar. Even if you skip the whipped cream these jumbo servings still provide about 450 calories. While you may be looking for a light, refreshing snack, what you may get is a drink that's equivalent to one or two portions of dessert.

To enjoy iced coffee drinks without wreaking havoc on your diet, order nonfat versions, skip the whipped cream and slowly savor a small portion. If you're very thirsty, quench your thirst with a cool glass of water first and then you'll be able to fully savor your icy treat.

- American Institute for Cancer Research.

WINNING SUBSTITUTIONS

To lower calories and fat without loss of taste, if a recipe calls for whole milk, try substituting fat-free, 1 percent or evaporated milk. If it calls for sour cream, try fat-free plain yogurt or low-fat sour cream. If it calls for cream cheese, try light cream cheese or low-fat cottage cheese pureed until smooth If a recipe calls for butter, shortening or oil in a baked good, substituted half the fat with an equal amount of applesauce, mashed banana, prune puree or commercial fat substitute.

- Mayo Clinic Health Letter, July 2008.

WINNING RECIPE

This recipe for Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips satisfies that sweet tooth we all have, without breaking the calorie bank. It's from the American Dietetic Association's "Cooking Healthy Across America."

BANANA BREAD WITH CHOCOLATE CHIPS

Vegetable oil cooking spray

4 large bananas, peeled

1/4 cup canola oil

1/2 cup nonfat yogurt

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar or spoonable sugar substitute

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup mini-chocolate chips

Yields 12 servings.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Coat 8- or 9-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Mash bananas with fork. Combine with oil, yogurt, egg and vanilla; mix well and set aside.

In separate bowl, mix flours, sugar, baking soda and salt; mix well. Combine banana mixture with flour mixture and stir until dry ingredients are moistened. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 45 to 52 minutes, depending on loaf pan size. Let cool in pan 10 minutes; remove from pan.

Nutritional analysis per serving: 250 calories, 5 g protein, 44 g carbohydrates, 8 g fat, 20 mg cholesterol, 3 g dietary fiber, 120 mg sodium.

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Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian in Springfield, Ill. For comments or questions, contact her at charfarg@aol.com.

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