Tongue Surface Test as a Screening Procedure for Diabetes Mellitus

A simple method to estimate blood sugar indirectly is presented. Shreds of tissue paper saturated with glucose-oxidase (Tes-Tape, Lilly) are put on the surface of the tongue and the change in color from yellow into green is observed.

In normal subjects all the tests were negative. In diabetics the test was positive in the presence of protracted hyperglycemia.