Coding Diabetes Mellitus with Assumed Conditions

Diabetes can be a challenge for coders. ICD-10-CM does assume the link between diabetes and multiple common conditions. In the index of ICD-10-CM you will see these assumed conditions. 

Here’s a list of the associated diabetic conditions where the link is assumed in ICD-10-CM:

• amyotrophy
• arthropathy NEC
• autonomic (poly) neuropathy
• cataract
• Charcot’s joints
• chronic kidney disease
• circulatory complication NEC
• coma due to hyperosmolarity, hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis
• complication specified NEC
• dermatitis
• foot ulcer
• gangrene
• gastroparalysis
• gastroparesis
• glomerulonephrosis, intracapillary
• glomerulosclerosis, intercapillary
• hyperglycemia
• hyperosmolarity with coma
• hypoglycemia with coma
• ketoacidosis with coma
• kidney complications NEC
• Kimmelsteil-Wilson disease
• loss of protective sensation(LOPS) – see Diabetes, by type, with neuropathy
• mononeuropathy
• myasthenia
• necrobiosis lipoidica
• nephropathy
• neuralgia
• neurologic complication NEC
• neuropathic arthropathy
• neuropathy
• ophthalmic complication NEC
• oral complication NEC
• osteomyelitis
• periodontal disease
• peripheral angiopathy with gangrene
• polyneuropathy
• renal complication NEC
• renal tubular degeneration
• retinopathy with macular edema or resolved following treatment
• retinopathy nonproliferative with macular edema (mild, moderate, or severe)
• retinopathy proliferative with combined traction retinal detachment and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, macular edema, stable proliferative diabetic retinopathy, traction retinal detachment involving the macula, and traction retinal detachment not involving the macula
• skin complication NEC
• skin ulcer NEC
  

If the MD documents another etiology for the condition DO NOT code to a diabetic complication or assume the link with diabetes.

If unsure about a specific condition being due to or “with” diabetes, coders can look the condition up in the ICD-10-CM Index. All the above associated diabetic conditions will have an entry for “diabetic.” If you search those terms.

Example 1: Patient has documented diabetes as well as a diagnosis of amyotrophy. neuralgia. Under the term for diabetes, amyotrophy is listed under the “with” subterm. Now look under the main term amyotrophy and there is a subterm for diabetic.

Example 2: Patient has documented hypertension and diabetes. This would not be an assumed link using the term “with.” Hypertension is a circulatory issue but the entry for circulatory complication also includes NEC. This means that the condition is not elsewhere classified within ICD-10 which is not the case for hypertension.

Authored by Kim Boy, RHIT, CDIP, CCS, CCS-P

References:

AHA Coding Clinic for ICD-10/PCS, First Quarter 2021: Page 7

AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS, First Quarter 2016 Pages: 6-7

AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS, Fourth Quarter 2016

ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting FY 2019 Pages 12-13
AHA Coding Clinic for ICD-10-CM/PCS, Second Quarter 2018 Pages: 6-7
AHA Coding Clinic for ICD-10-CM/PCS, Fourth Quarter 2018 Pages: 100-101
AHA Coding Clinic for ICD-10-CM/PCS, Fourth Quarter 2016 Pages: 11-13 and 141-143
AHA Coding Clinic for ICD-10-CM/PCS, Second Quarter 2016 Pages: 36-37

---

In need of coding support? We offer both inpatient coding support and outpatient coding support services. Partner with us to replace underperforming coding vendors, get coding backlogs caught up, staff for a FMLA/vacation gap, special projects, to assist in Single Path Coding, or for Total Outsource Coding Support.

---

The information contained in this coding advice is valid at the time of posting. Viewers are encouraged to research subsequent official guidance in the areas associated with the topic as they can change rapidly.