Q: I am diabetic. If I develop a sore on my foot, will I have to have an amputation?

A: Medicine has made much progress in the treatment of diabetic foot infections. The management of these challenging infections often requires a team approach, involving the medical doctor for blood sugar control, an infectious disease specialist for infection control, a vascular specialist to make sure the foot has the blood supply it needs, and the foot specialist to manage wound care and perform surgery when necessary. In even the worst foot infections, most of the foot, or even the entire foot, can be salvaged in about 90% of cases.