OBJECTIVE Determining the prevalence of prevention activities regarding diabetic foot recommended by doctors and carried out by out-patients attending general medicine self-care foot control and describing food habits. METHODS This was a descriptive and cross-sectional studywhich was carried out in two health-care institutions in Bogotá, from March to October 2008, by weightedconveniencesampling of 307 diabetic patients, aged over 18 years. RESULTS Some patients had a background of foot ulcers (13.0 %) and amputations of the lower limbs(1.6 %). Some patients referredto dysesthesia(65.5 %) and intermittent claudication (33.6 %)whilst many stated that they had received no education about foot care from their doctors(78.2 %). Many stated that the doctor had not checked their feet during the last year (76.2 %)and others that, despite presenting dysesthesia and intermittent claudication(89.0 % and 93.0 %, respectively), the patients had not been asked about these symptoms. Regarding patient activities,some did not checktheir feet each day (63.1 %), did not perform self-monitoring (93.4 %), consumed more than two sources of carbohydrateduring the main meals (38. %)and/or added sugar, "panela" or honey to preparations (38.8 %). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of diabetic foot prevention practices recommended by doctors and carried out by patients was poor. Interdisciplinary programmes must thus be created and strengthenedfor preventing diabetes mellitus and diabetic foot, at primary- attention out-patient level, besides providing pertinent trainingfor health teams.