ICD-10 Code E10.349 – Type 1 diabetes mellitus with severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy without macular edema (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code E10.349 – Type 1 diabetes mellitus with severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy without macular edema
What it is
This code identifies type 1 diabetes complicated by severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, with no macular edema documented. It tells you the eye disease is advanced but has not progressed to proliferative retinopathy.
Clinical signs
Patients may have retinal hemorrhages, venous changes, or intraretinal microvascular abnormalities on eye exam. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation and ophthalmology findings.
When to use this code
Use this code when the record clearly links type 1 diabetes to severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy and states that macular edema is absent. You should rely on provider documentation or specialist assessment, not assumptions from a general diabetic eye diagnosis.
If the note says “with macular edema,” choose a different code. If severity or diabetes type is unclear, check documentation before assigning E10.349.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for proliferative retinopathy, unspecified retinopathy severity, or diabetic macular edema. Do not use it when the diabetes type is not documented as type 1.
Coding tip
Verify both the retinopathy severity and the absence of macular edema in the same source before coding.