Question: One of my colleagues says that any diabetic who has either hyperlipidemia or hypertension can be coded as 250.8x (Diabetes with other specified manifestation) in addition to 401.x (Essential hypertension) and 272.xx (Disorders of lipid metabolism). She says this is because all diabetics have some degree of plaque in their arteries. Is this correct? -- Alabama Subscriber Answer: Hypertension and hyperlipidemia aren't considered manifestations of diabetes, so you shouldn't code them as such.