def METHOD_NAME(item_code, properties=None):
	if frappe.db.exists("Item", item_code):
		return frappe.get_doc("Item", item_code)
	item = frappe.get_doc(
		{
			"doctype": "Item",
			"item_code": item_code,
			"item_name": item_code,
			"description": item_code,
			"item_group": "Products",
		}
	)
	if properties:
		item.update(properties)
	item.insert()
	return item