Diabetes with severe nonp rtnop without macular edema, unsp

This code signifies diabetes that is a direct consequence of another underlying disease or condition, rather than type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The patient presents with severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, characterized by significant retinal damage without the formation of new blood vessels, and importantly, without any swelling in the macula. The specific eye affected is not documented.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states diabetes is secondary to another condition (e.g., cystic fibrosis, pancreatitis, drug-induced) and severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy is present without macular edema. This code is appropriate when the medical record does not specify whether the right or left eye is affected. Supporting documentation includes ophthalmology reports detailing the retinopathy severity and the underlying cause of diabetes.

• Always sequence the underlying condition causing the diabetes first, followed by this diabetes code.
• Ensure documentation explicitly states "severe nonproliferative" and "without macular edema" for accurate selection.
• If the affected eye is specified (right or left), use the more specific codes E08.3491 or E08.3492 instead.