The Tenth Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD 10) describes a set of codes that should be accurately used by doctors when diagnosing patients with different diseases. The ICD 10 includes diagnostic data for diabetes. The accuracy of these codes is extremely important as they inherently explain the exact situation of the patient and helps doctors keep track of their condition. For diabetes, in particular, the codes represent the following:
- The type of diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2)
- The affected body systems
- The associated complications of the condition
Code Assignment Based on the Associated Complications
For type 1 diabetes, the code category E10 is used to identify the use of insulin. This is because insulin injections are inevitable for Type 1 diabetes patients and hence do not need to be explicitly mentioned in the diagnosis code. If the patient has no complications, the case is labeled with the code E10.9. If they suffer from complications that are not explicitly listed, the case is given the code E10.8. However, if specific complications are associated and well-defined for the patient’s condition, the codes E10.10 up to E10.65 are used. The numbers vary based on the specific complications identified. In pregnancy, 024.0 codes are attached to E10 codes in order to describe pre-existing diabetes Type 1 in the pregnant mother and during childbirth.
Several complications are suffered by Type 1 diabetic patients worldwide, which explains the allocation of 55 code lines to describe them (from E10.10 to E10.65).
Three main complications are found to be most prevalent, and their codes are generally noted in the majority of Type 1 diabetes patients. One of these three complications is diabetic polyneuropathy, which is given the code E10.42. This is a condition of nerve damage, which is caused when the small blood vessels supplying the nerves are affected by diabetes.
Another condition is diabetic nephropathy which is given the code E10.21. The code E10.3xx is used to describe patients with mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, which is the third most commonly experienced complication. Diabetic nephropathy is a severe kidney malfunction that may occur due to diabetes Type 1.
Studies reveal that up to 40% of type 1 diabetic patients do eventually develop kidney problems due to the disturbed blood flow feeding the nephrons. On the other hand, diabetic retinopathy is a complication that affects the retina of the eye due to damage of the vessels supplying blood to it. It has several associated complications that are given multiple codes including E10.319, E10.321, E10.329, E10.331, and others.
Other ICD codes also include E10.11, which refers to Type 1 diabetes with ketoacidosis. This is an increase in the acid content of the blood. It is usually a complication that occurs when blood sugar levels remain high for an extended period of time. The code E10.621 is also used, and it refers to type 1 diabetes with foot ulcers.
References:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetic-nephropathy/…/syc-20354556
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