Z79.4: Long term (current) use of insulin

Z79.4 diagnosis code: Long-term (current) use of insulin

The ICD-10 CM diagnosis code is used to designate Long term (current) use of insulin. It is under the parent chapter: Factors influencing health status and contact with health services. More specifically, it's under the code Z79: Long-term drug therapy (current).

This code is meant for patients with type 1 or type 2 Diabetes. Such patients will have to take insulin for the rest of their lives and do so consistently to avoid hyperglycemia (having too much glucose in the bloodstream).

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a lifelong disease that prevents the pancreas from making insulin, which is needed to regulate blood sugar and ensure it reaches the cells to produce energy.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus makes cells more resistant to insulin to the point that the insulin the pancreas produces can't compensate for the resistance.

Do note that healthcare professionals must follow coding practices as provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure accurate coding and billing.

Is Z79.4 billable?

Yes. This ICD-10 code is valid and billable.

Clinical information

Insulin is a type of hormone that the pancreas produces. This hormone does the following:

• Regulates blood sugar levels
• Regulates the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins
• Stores glucose in the liver, muscles, and fat

A person with diabetes will require long-term use of insulin to help account for the impact this disease has on the body.

As mentioned earlier, type 1 diabetes impacts the pancreas so that it turns its own body against the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This prevents the pancreas from producing the necessary amounts of insulin to regulate blood sugar. Sometimes it prevents the pancreas from producing any insulin at all.

For type 1 diabetics, insulin is necessary for survival, and they will rely on insulin shots or pumps daily to avoid death and other complications caused by the lack of insulin.

People with type 2 diabetes still produce insulin, but the amount may lessen over time. The problem is that the cells become resistant to insulin. Treatment will involve getting enough insulin to account for the resistance. It'll also involve lifestyle adjustments, changes, and even medicine that helps boost insulin production and sensitivity.

Synonyms include

• Diabetic on insulin
• Diabetic on insulin and oral treatment
• Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus type 1B
• Insulin treated type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Long-term insulin use (current)
• On subcutaneous insulin for diabetes mellitus

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Other ICD-10 codes commonly used for insulin

• T38.3X1A - Poisoning by insulin and oral hypoglycemic [antidiabetic] drugs, accidental (unintentional), initial encounter
• T38.3X1D - Poisoning by insulin and oral hypoglycemic [antidiabetic] drugs, accidental (unintentional), subsequent encounter
• T38.3X1S - Poisoning by insulin and oral hypoglycemic [antidiabetic] drugs, accidental (unintentional), sequela
• T38.3X2A - Poisoning by insulin and oral hypoglycemic [antidiabetic] drugs, intentional self-harm, initial encounter
• T38.3X2D - Poisoning by insulin and oral hypoglycemic [antidiabetic] drugs, intentional self-harm, subsequent encounter
• T38.3X2S - Poisoning by insulin and oral hypoglycemic [antidiabetic] drugs, intentional self-harm, sequela
• T38.3X5A - Adverse effect of insulin and oral hypoglycemic [antidiabetic] drugs, initial encounter
• T38.3X5D - Adverse effect of insulin and oral hypoglycemic [antidiabetic] drugs, subsequent encounter
• T38.3X5S - Adverse effect of insulin and oral hypoglycemic [antidiabetic] drugs, sequela