Diabetes with severe nonp rtnop without macular edema, bi

This code signifies a patient diagnosed with diabetes mellitus that is a direct result of another underlying medical condition, not type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The patient also presents with severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy affecting both eyes, without any associated macular edema. This indicates significant microvascular damage to the retina due to the secondary diabetes.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states diabetes mellitus secondary to another condition (e.g., pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, drug-induced) and specifies severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy in both eyes, explicitly noting the absence of macular edema. This code requires a definitive link between the underlying condition and the diabetes.

• Always sequence the underlying condition causing the diabetes first, followed by this code.
• Ensure documentation specifies "severe nonproliferative" and "bilateral" retinopathy without macular edema; differentiate from moderate or mild forms, or unilateral involvement.
• Do not use this code for type 1 or type 2 diabetes; those have their own specific codes for diabetic retinopathy.