Insulin Resistance ICD-10-CM Codes

What ICD-10 Codes are Used for Insulin Resistance 

Currently, there’s only one ICD-10 code for insulin resistance, and that is E88.81: Metabolic Syndrome. 

However, CMS announced three new proposed ICD-10 codes for insulin resistance, which will take effect on October 1, 2023, when approved or finalized. For your information and benefit, we’ll leave the three codes below. 

• E88.810: Metabolic syndrome
• E88.811: Insulin resistance syndrome, Type A
• E88.818: Other insulin resistance
• E88.819: Insulin resistance, unspecified

Is the Insulin Resistance ICD codes Billable? 

Yes, the lone ICD-10 code for insulin resistance, E88.81: Metabolic Syndrome, is billable.

Clinical Information

• Insulin resistance is when fat, muscles, and liver cells don’t respond well to insulin. The result is the cells’ inability to take or store glucose from one’s blood and the pancreas’ compensation of making more insulin to lower one’s blood glucose levels. 
• When unchecked, insulin resistance increases the risk of a patient being overweight, having high triglycerides, and having high blood pressure. 
• Though the cause of insulin resistance has yet to be found, significant factors are excess weight, diet, certain medications, and physical inactivity. 
• Usually, those with insulin resistance don’t exhibit any symptoms. If they do, especially those with prediabetes, they may have acanthosis nigricans or darkened skin/skin tags in the armpits and back/sides of the neck. 
• Practitioners will have the patient undergo blood tests to check if the patient has insulin resistance or, specifically, pre-diabetes. They will usually check the results of their glucose, lipids, and A1c. 
• Treatment is mainly lifestyle modification wherein the patient must eat a healthier diet, be more physically active, and lose excess weight. 

Synonyms Include:

• Insulin Resistance - Type A
• Insulin Resistance - Type B
• Insulin receptor defect
• Glucose-galactose malabsorption