3 Ways Diabetes Affects Your Balance

Your balance system entails a lot of different things. It's about communicating through the inner ear, the eyes, the muscles, joints and your brain.

The first way that diabetes effects your balance is through a complication called retinopathy. This is where the small, tiny blood vessels in your retina will burst and it gets very cloudy and you can't see. If you can't see very clearly where you're stepping, where you're putting your feet, where exactly you're going and your depth perception is off, that's going to affect your balance.

The second way that diabetes complications are a problem and affect your balance is through neuropathy. This is when your feet have a "pins and needles" sensation and eventually, feeling is completely lost. You can't tell if you're stepping on something like a small toy or something sharp. If you can't feel where your feet are, it's very likely that you'll lose your balance and fall.

The third way is in your vestibular system. Your vestibular system is where you get your balance. Go through the outer ear into the ear canal. There we meet the tympanic membrane, also known as the eardrum. There are three little bones you've probably heard about in school; the malleus, also known as the hammer, the incus is the anvil, and the stapes is the stirrup. These bones work with this tympanic membrane to bring sound from the outer ear to the inner ear, all the way into the brain.

Next is the cochlea which is responsible for hearing. This is where we have three semicircular canals. These tell you where you are in space. So is my head up? Is it to the side? Am I upside down? This sense is called proprioception.

When this system is not working well, it creates tremendous problems. People cannot, in worst case scenarios, walk down a hallway without hanging onto the walls. If your vestibular system is messed up, it can be life-limiting.

People who have diabetes have a higher risk of problems with their vestibular system. Why? Because of poor glucose control.

All three of these complications contribute to problems with balance. If you don't have good balance, you're likely have postural sway as you are swaying a little bit, gait instability or instability walking. You don't feel like your feet are planted on the ground or that you can move in whatever direction you want. This leads to a fall.

Vestibular dysfunction is seen a lot in people who have prolonged poor blood sugar control and who have had diabetes for a long time. Often, that's people who are older, who may, under some circumstances, be already prone to some instability when they walk, leading to a fall. Having uncontrolled blood sugar damaging the vestibular system can make things worse.

What can you do?

1. First, ask your doctor for a referral to get a comprehensive exam from someone like a physical therapist who can determine what the problem(s) are and how to direct treatment.

2. Second, get some balance training. As you get older, you may tend to have issues with your balance anyway. Try standing on one foot and then the other, close to a countertop or chair, and see which side of your body has better balance.

3. Third, get your blood sugar under control and do your best to keep it that way.

Unfortunately, diabetes affects the whole body. The good news is better blood sugar control will help solve a number of problems!

Dr Elaine

Download my free 30 Day Guide to Manage or Reverse Type 2 Diabetes 

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider for advice about a specific medical condition.

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