However, heavier monofilaments are applied to the feet, for example, the 2 g or the 6 g monofilament is used to detect early signs of peripheral neuropathy and the 10 g monofilament is used to assess protective sensation. Age, long duration of diabetes and hyperglycemia are risk factors for neuropathic changes in the feet. We found that older age, longer duration of diabetes and obesity were moderately associated with poorer light touch scores in the hands at the first assessment, while hyperglycemia was weakly associated with deteriorating light touch during the period of observation