Question: Encounter notes indicate that a patient suffers from type 2 diabetes with mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy. There is no mention of macular edema. What is the correct diagnosis code for this condition? Idaho Subscriber Answer: For this patient, E11.329- (Type 2 diabetes mellitus with mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy without macular edema) would be the correct diagnosis code. Don’t stop there: You’ll need to add a 7th character to indicate the location of the retinopathy. Go back and check the notes. Then, complete the diagnosis code by adding one of the following 7th characters: