E09.621

What This Code Means

This code describes diabetes that developed as a side effect of taking certain medications or being exposed to harmful chemicals, and the patient has developed an ulcer (open sore) on their foot. This is a serious complication that requires careful wound care and management.

Coding Tips

• •Always identify and document the specific drug or chemical that caused the diabetes, as this information supports medical necessity and helps with causality documentation
• •Ensure the foot ulcer is documented with its location and severity (stage), as this may require additional codes for the ulcer itself (L97 series) depending on your coding guidelines and payer requirements

Clinical Significance

Drug or chemical induced diabetes mellitus with foot ulcer is a serious complication combining impaired wound healing from diabetes with the biomechanical stresses on the foot. Diabetic foot ulcers are a leading cause of nontraumatic lower extremity amputation and represent a major source of morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, and healthcare expenditure. The presence of a foot ulcer in drug-induced diabetes signals the need for multidisciplinary care including vascular assessment, wound management, and offloading strategies.

Documentation Requirements

• ✓The causative drug or chemical must be identified.
• ✓The foot ulcer must be documented with its exact anatomical location, size, depth, and Wagner or University of Texas classification.
• ✓An additional code from L97 (non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb) specifying site and severity is required.
• ✓Vascular status and presence or absence of infection must be assessed and documented.

Commonly Confused Codes