BACKGROUND: Diabetes and the problem of the diabetic foot specifically are a severe burden on the public healthcare system. Amputations caused by this condition are still common in our setting (Brazil), although the true magnitude of the problem is not known with certainty. Lower limb amputation rates have come to be seen as an indicator of the quality of preventative care of the diabetic foot. OBJECTIVE: To identify associations between amputations and factors related to people, to morbidities and to primary care received. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of a sample of 137 patients with diabetic feet admitted to a large hospital in the city of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. Logistic regression analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Associations with amputation were detected for the following variables: age over 60; resident of the Metro zone; income of three minimum salaries or less; presence of gangrene on admission; glycemia ≥ 126 mg/dL; smoking; not receiving information about results of glycemia testing; not having feet examined, and not being given guidance on caring for feet at consultations during the previous year. CONCLUSIONS: Factors related to Primary Care, such as time since onset of ulcers, information about results of glycemia testing and lack of guidance on how to care for their feet, were associated with occurrence of lower limb amputations.