Home Health ICD-9/ICD-10 Alert

Question: When is it appropriate to list 277.7 (Dysmetabolic syndrome X)? A colleague has been using this code to indicate stable diabetic patients, but this doesn't seem appropriate to me.

Answer: If a patient has diabetes, whether stable or unstable, you should use the 250.xx (Diabetes mellitus) codes.

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists defines dysmetabolic syndrome X, also known as the metabolic syndrome and syndrome X, as a constellation of metabolic abnormalities in serum or plasma insulin/glucose level ratios, lipids (triglycerides, LDL cholesterol subtypes and/or HDL cholesterol), uric acid levels, coagulation factor imbalances and vascular physiology. Do not code for this condition unless you have this specific diagnosis from the physician.