New research takes a closer look at the connection between elevated blood sugar and hearing lossand the science behind it

• People with type 2 diabetes have a much higher likelihood of hearing loss than those without.

• The research reviewed 17 studies and found hearing difficulties occur most often at higher sound frequencies.

• Longer diabetes duration and poorer blood sugar control were linked to greater hearing impairment.

Most of us think of diabetes in terms of blood sugar, diet, and maybe eye or nerve issues but hearing?

A new comprehensive analysis published in OtolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery suggests we might want to change that.

Researchers found a strong link between type 2 diabetes and hearing loss, particularly in the higher pitch ranges that help us understand speech and enjoy music.

How did the study work?

The research team from Hospital Clnic and Universitat de Barcelona in Spain sifted through thousands of published studies, ultimately selecting 17 that met rigorous scientific standards.

In total, data from 3,910 adults with type 2 diabetes were compared with 4,084 people without diabetes. The researchers looked at hearing test results especially pure-tone audiometry, a common way to measure the quietest sounds a person can detect across different frequencies and analyzed how often hearing loss occurred in each group.

They also examined subgroups, such as how long a person had lived with diabetes and how well their blood sugar (HbA1c) was controlled, seeking clues about who might be at higher risk.

What did they find?

Across the studies analyzed, hearing loss showed up in 40.6% to 71.9% of people with type 2 diabetes far higher than in the non-diabetic comparison group. Overall, individuals with diabetes were more than four times as likely to have measurable hearing impairment.

Interestingly, the difference in hearing was most noticeable at higher frequencies, which can affect how clearly someone perceives speech and certain sounds in noisy environments. On average, people with diabetes needed sounds to be about 3.2 decibels louder to hear them compared to controls.

Duration of diabetes and blood sugar control seemed to matter too: people with diabetes for more than 10 years had a notably higher risk of hearing loss, and those with poorer glucose control tended to have more severe impairment.

The researchers proposed that changes in the tiny blood vessels of the inner ear similar to the microvascular damage diabetes can cause elsewhere in the body might underlie the hearing difficulties.

Top takeaways

If youre living with type 2 diabetes or caring for someone who has it this research adds one more area to keep on your radar: hearing health.

• Dont ignore subtle changes in hearing. Because the study found differences most often at higher frequencies, difficulty following conversations or hearing clearly in noisy settings may be worth mentioning to a healthcare provider.

• Talk with your care team about hearing checks. Given the higher rates of hearing loss found in people with type 2 diabetes, especially those with longer disease duration, asking whether a baseline or routine hearing evaluation makes sense could be a practical next step.

• Stay focused on blood sugar management. The analysis found that longer duration of diabetes and poorer glucose control were associated with greater hearing impairment, reinforcing how closely overall diabetes management is tied to broader health outcomes.

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A recent study examined how rest patterns relate to injury rates

• Runners who sleep less or have poor sleep quality and more sleep problems are significantly more likely to report injuries.

• Researchers grouped runners into distinct sleep profiles to better understand how patterns of sleep relate to injury risk.

• Those with the poorest sleep were nearly twice as likely to sustain a running-related injury over a year.

If youre a runner whether youre gearing up for your next 5K or just enjoy pounding the pavement on weekends injuries are a familiar risk.

However, a new study suggests the culprit might not just be how far you run or how heavy your training load is it could also be how well (or poorly) you sleep.

Researchers know sleep is essential for repairing muscles, regulating hormones, and keeping your focus sharp. But until now, the relationship between specific sleep patterns and running injuries hasnt been thoroughly explored in everyday runners. Thats what a team led by Professor Jan de Jonge set out to investigate.

While runners specifically focus on mileage, nutrition and recovery strategies, sleep tends to fall to the bottom of the list, de Jonge said in a news release.

Our research shows that poor sleepers were 1.78 times more likely to report injuries than those with stable, good quality sleep, with a 68% likelihood of sustaining an injury over a 12-month period. Thats a strong reminder that how well you rest is just as important as how hard you train.

The study

Rather than just asking runners how many hours of sleep they got, the research team took a deeper look at sleep in several dimensions how long runners slept, how good their sleep was, and whether they struggled with sleep problems like difficulty falling asleep or waking up frequently.

About 425 recreational runners filled out surveys about their sleep and injury history. Using that information, researchers used a statistical method called latent profile analysis to sort runners into four sleep profiles based on their sleep characteristics:

• Steady Sleepers, with average sleep and fewer problems.

• Poor Sleepers, who got less sleep and reported worse quality and more disruptions.

• Efficient Sleepers, with decent duration and high sleep quality.

• Fragmented Sleepers, who had mixed signals some sleep issues despite average sleep time.

This approach let the team explore whether patterns of sleep not just hours logged were linked to injury risk.

What the results showed

When researchers compared injury rates across the sleep profiles, a clear pattern emerged: runners in the Poor Sleepers group were significantly more likely to report injuries over the previous 12 months compared with the Steady Sleepers.

In fact, poor sleepers were about 1.78 times more likely to have been injured, translating to roughly a 68% chance of reporting a running injury in a year.

Other sleep profiles didnt show a meaningful difference in injury risk compared with the reference group. But this link between poor sleep and injury risk suggests that sleep isnt just a nice-to-have it might be a factor worth prioritizing alongside training and recovery if you want to keep your runs injury-free.

Sleep is a vital biological process that allows the body and mind to recover and adapt to the physical and mental demands of training, de Jonge said . When sleep is disrupted or insufficient, the bodys ability to repair tissues, regulate hormones and maintain focus diminishes, all of which can increase injury risk.

Runners especially those balancing training with work, family and social commitments may actually need more sleep than average adults to recover properly. Sleep should be treated as a performance priority, not an afterthought.

Starting April 2, cardholders can earn up to twice as many miles

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• United Airlines is giving travelers three new reasons to hold and use a United MileagePlus credit or debit card: the ability to earn up to twice as many miles as non-cardholders, at least 10% off United award tickets, and access to special inventory of its lowest-priced award seats.

• Starting April 2, primary cardholders can earn significantly more miles per dollar on United flights and receive automatic discounts on award redemptions.

• Cardholders will also gain expanded access to Saver Award seats in United Polarisbusiness class, with some seats priced as low as 68,000 miles.

United Airlines is enhancing its MileagePlus loyalty program with a number of new perks designed to reward customers who carry and use a United-branded credit or debit card.

Beginning with tickets purchased on or after April 2, primary United MileagePlus cardholders will earn more miles per dollar on United-operated flights than non-cardholders in some cases up to twice as many miles. Cardholders will also receive automatic discounts on award tickets and gain expanded access to Saver Award inventory, including in the airlines premium United Polaris business class cabin.

Andrew Nocella, Uniteds chief commercial officer, said the changes are aimed at strengthening the value of the airlines loyalty ecosystem.

The most rewarding way to fly United is as a MileagePlus member, and the best way to get the most value from the MileagePlus program is to have one of our credit or debit cards, Nocella said.

MileagePlus members can now earn more miles faster with a United card and every one of those miles will go further with our always-on award ticket discounts and expanded access to Saver Award fares.

Earning more miles

Under the revised earning structure, MileagePlus primary cardholders will receive boosted mileage accrual on standard United tickets, with additional miles awarded when paying with an eligible United card.

For example, a MileagePlus 1K member using a United Club card can earn up to 17 total miles per dollar spent on eligible United flights among the highest earn rates in airline or travel rewards programs, according to the airline.

Other examples illustrate the shift:

• A MileagePlus Gold member using a United Quest card will earn 13 miles per dollar more than double what a Gold member without a card would earn.

• A general MileagePlus member using a UnitedExplorer card will earn nine miles per dollar, triple the rate of a non-cardholder.

• A general member paying with a United Club card will earn 11 miles per dollar, nearly four times the non-cardholder rate.

Other changes

United also tightened earning rules for members without a co-branded card. General members must now hold a United card to earn miles on Basic Economy tickets, and non-cardholders will earn fewer miles overall compared to cardholders at the same status level.

Customers can review the updated accrual rates and calculate potential earnings using the airlines online mileage calculator.

In addition to enhanced earning potential, United cardholders will receive automatic discounts on every United award flight they book.

Primary cardholders will save at least 10% on award tickets, while Premier members with a United card will save at least 15%. The discounted pricing is displayed during booking on Uniteds website and mobile app.

When its a lifesaver and when its a hassle

• Home Depot offers same-day delivery (order by ~4 p.m.) on many items, often arriving within hours via Instacart, Uber, or DoorDash. Fees typically start around $2.99.

• Great for parts, tools, filters, or light fixtures when youre mid-project. Usually not ideal for appliances or bulky items.

• Look for the Get it Fast badge, order before cutoff, and remember deliveries are handled by third parties which can affect tracking and support.

Home Depot offers same-day delivery on many items ordered online or via their app if you order by 4 pm. This includes small tools, hardware, and even larger products like hot water heaters and flooring.

Through partnerships with delivery services Instacart, Uber, and DoorDash, same-day delivery can arrive in as fast as one hour in many locations. The delivery cost typically starts at $2.99 and can rise from there, depending on the size of your order.

This service is part of HDs broader Get it Fast options which includes same-day pickup, same-day delivery, and jobsite delivery.

When it's actually worth it

Quick fixes or unexpected needs

Lets say you suddenly need a part (like a faucet, bolt, light bulb, filter, etc.) to finish a project today. Thats when same-day delivery beats a store trip or waiting one to three business days.

For most items priced under $50, the same-day delivery fee will be less than your time and gas driving to a store.

Free or low-fee orders

Some items actually qualify for free same-day delivery (especially with promotions), which makes it a no-brainer if you can wait a couple hours for the item.

In the screenshot above, the hanger bolt I needed only cost $1.47, and Icould get it delivered for just $2.99. Totally worth it, as I didn't have to stop working and drive 25minutes to my nearestHome Depot. I would have lost over an hour of time, plusthe cost of gas, just to go get one little bolt.

When you might regret it

Large/bulky items

Large items like appliances, lumber, and big/heavy tools may still take longer or cost much more to delivereven if labeled same day.

Appliances, in particular, are better off with standard delivery + installation services for reliability reasons, as dealing with any issues becomes much easier.

Customer experience issues in delivery

Some customers report late deliveries, missed windows, or cancelled deliveries with little notice.

Third-party couriers are often handling the delivery, which can mean poor communication from the driver.

Customer service hurdles

If something goes wrong with delivery or returns, it can take longer to get answers.

Some shoppers have reported that HD customer service can be frustrating to work with, especially when dealing with deliveries that are provided by a thirdparty.

Insider tips & potential gotchas

1. Order early.Cutoff times matter when considering same-day delivery. Specifically, 4 p.m. is the cut-off time. So, if youre close to the cutoff, and you desperately need something to finish a project, your safest bet is going to be to drive to the store.

2. Check item eligibility before you buy. Not every SKU qualifies for same-day delivery, so be sure to look for the Get it Fast badge in search results.

3. Be realistic on big items. Same-day delivery on small to medium products is fairly common. For appliances, furniture, or bulky materials, same-day may not actually be available or it might be very expensive.

4. Know whos delivering. Because same-day delivery comes from Instacart or another courier, they are not Home Depots own drivers. Be aware that this can affect tracking, customer support, and the quality of the service you receive.