AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 1991 Third Quarter
Acute Metabolic Complications of Diabetes Mellitus
Fourth Digit 1: 250.1X, Diabetes with Ketoacidosis (DKA) Note:This advice was superseded by Second Quarter 2006, pp. 19-20. Code 250.13, Diabetes with ketoacidosis, type I [juvenile type], uncontrolled, is the default for an unspecified type diabetic ketoacidosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis is assigned to code 250.11 unless the diabetes mellitus is specifically identified as NIDDM (or adult onset or Type II). In those cases it is coded as 250.10. DKA occasionally occurs in a noninsulin-dependent diabetic patient suffering from an infection, myocardial infarction, trauma, or other serious illness. Typical findings are glycosuria 4+ (urinary glucose), strong ketonuria...
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Article Overview
This article reviews diabetes mellitus complication coding across acute metabolic complications and late manifestations, with emphasis on how related conditions are grouped and documented for classification purposes. It is aimed at coders, auditors, and compliance staff who work with diabetes-related diagnosis coding and need to understand the scope of the guidance, the affected body systems, and the kinds of reference updates and examples included in the source material.
Why This Topic Matters
Diabetes-related encounters often involve multiple linked conditions, and accurate diagnosis coding depends on recognizing which complications are documented and how they relate to the diabetes. This article helps users identify the breadth of diabetes complication topics covered and the code sets and supporting references involved.
Article Sections
-
Acute metabolic complications
Covers the major acute diabetes complication categories discussed in the source, including metabolic states and coded complication groupings. Also notes updates and classification references tied to those categories.
-
Late complications
Introduces chronic diabetes-related conditions affecting multiple body systems and explains the general approach to coding complicating conditions. The section frames how additional conditions are handled when diabetes is documented with ongoing manifestations.
-
Renal manifestations
Addresses diabetes-related kidney involvement and related coding references. Includes discussion of documentation-supported renal conditions and linked classification sources.
-
Diabetic eye disease
Covers diabetes-related ocular manifestations, including retinopathy and cataract-related topics. Also references updates affecting eye-related diagnosis coding.
-
Diabetic neuropathy
Reviews diabetes-related nerve complications and related neurologic manifestations. The section includes peripheral, cranial, and autonomic topics along with supporting diagnostic references.
-
Diabetic peripheral circulatory disorders
Discusses diabetes-associated vascular manifestations affecting the extremities and related circulatory conditions. It also includes references to broader vascular disease coding context.
-
Other chronic manifestations of diabetes mellitus
Covers additional diabetes-related chronic conditions not addressed in the earlier manifestation categories. The section includes special topics, foot ulcers, and other linked manifestations discussed in the article.
-
Organic impotence in diabetes mellitus
Addresses how diabetes-related impotence is discussed in the source and places it within the broader complication framework. The section focuses on documentation-based classification considerations.
-
Examples
Provides representative coding examples illustrating how the article’s guidance is applied in different clinical scenarios. These examples show the range of diabetes-related encounters covered by the source.
What You Will Learn
- How the article organizes acute and chronic diabetes complication topics.
- Which diabetes complication categories are discussed in relation to diagnosis coding.
- What kinds of related condition references and coding updates are included.
- How the article frames multi-condition diabetes encounters and supporting examples.
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Compliance staff
- Clinical documentation improvement staff
- Revenue cycle professionals
- Health information management professionals
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.


Quick, Current, Complete - www.findacode.com