AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 2005 Issue 2; Clarifications

Persistent Elevated Blood Sugar Postpartum

Coding Clinic, Fourth Quarter 2004, page 56, advised, “After the postpartum period, a code from category 250, Diabetes mellitus should be used.” This code was assigned for a woman three months postpartum that presented to the endocrinologist because of persistent elevated blood sugars following delivery. The patient had developed gestational diabetes during pregnancy. It appears that the Coding Clinic is equating persistent elevated blood sugar with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. However, based on the information in the question, code 790.29, Other abnormal glucose, seems more appropriate for persistent elevated blood sugars, because the question did not imply the patient had actually developed diabetes. Please provide clarification. ...

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