Revenue Cycle

November is Diabetes Awareness Month

Coding Educator, November 16, 2009

 By Shannon McCall, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CPC, CPC-I, CCDS 

As children polish off the last bit of leftover Halloween candy, it comes to mind that sugar is not always every American’s friend. November is American Diabetes Month. There are approximately 18 million Americans who live with this disease. Diabetes is the body’s inability to produce or properly use insulin which is vital in converting sugar and starches into energy.
 
This disease has recently affected my mother and I have been so proud of her dedication to manage the condition with such a positive attitude. I have heard about her escapades of searching for the right glucose monitoring machine, finding the test strips, and effectively getting the blood sample into the monitoring machine – but that was only the beginning of her journey. She visited the dietician and was essentially told “no white stuff,” which included some of her favorite foods like potatoes and pasta.
 
There are a variety of underlying causes which lead to the development of diabetes. The causes can range from hereditary conditions, adverse effects of medications, pregnancy even preventable causes such as obesity. 
 
There are a few major types of diabetes mellitus:
  1. Type 1 – a condition where the body lacks the ability to produce insulin. Commonly referred to as “juvenile” diabetes because it is generally diagnosed in the adolescent years.
  2. Type 2 – a condition where the body is unable to properly use insulin. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type and affects approximately 70% of those with diabetes.
  3. Gestational – the condition develops during the anetpartum period and generally resolves postpartum. Only about 5-10% will be diagnosed as Type 2 diabetes.
  4. Secondary – a condition due to an underlying cause such as a genetic condition, or other disease affecting the pancreas.
The common symptoms of diabetes are the “polys”: Polyuria (excessive urination), polyphagia (excessive hunger), polydipsia (excessive thirst). Other related symptoms can include unexplained weight loss, fatigue and blurry vision. Many patients are relatively asymptomatic therefore it is estimated that approximately 6 million people either have the disease or are suffering from the early signs of development of the disease known as “pre-diabetes”.
 
Routine testing for diabetes should be integral to a patient’s health care maintenance especially if there is a family history of the disease. Screenings can be performed via simple lab tests like Fasting Plasma Glucose Test or the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test.
 
Preventative measures, include things we should be doing routinely anyway; healthy diet, exercise, smoking cessation and reduction in alcohol consumption. Remember we only get one body, so we need to take care of it!
 
Complications and manifestations of diabetes should be a common concern for those with the disease. Diabetes mellitus is known to affect other organ systems such as the kidneys, eye, heart and vascular system.
 
Coding for diabetes depends on the type of diabetes and the absence or presence of complications and manifestations.
  • Type 1 – 250.x1 or 250.x3
  • Type 2 – 250.x0 or 250.x2
  • Gestational – 648.8x
  • Secondary – 249.xx
V58.67 can also be assigned for patient with long term (current) use of insulin.
 
There are many Americans who suffer from this often silent disease that is commonly overlooked or ignored. Please be aware of the warning signs and don’t hesitate to discuss your symptoms with your physician. The most common type of diabetes (Type 2) can be prevented with proper care.
 
I am sure many reading this have a loved one or even an acquaintance who suffers from a form of diabetes mellitus. Please join me in continuing to support people like my mother in dealing with this disease. We need to focus on taking care of ourselves and making the right decisions concerning diet and exercise so that we can hopefully avoid being in her shoes in 25 years. In fact, my best buddy (my dog, Damian) is looking at me now wanting to go on yet another walk… where are my tennis shoes??? Let’s go!
 

Most Popular

Related Articles