Identifying the presence of chronic complications and evaluating obesity and hypertension control in diabetic patients taking part in a control and monitoring programme in Cartagena, Colombia.This was a descriptive cross-sectional study which reviewed 499 medical records from a basic health care unit in Cartagena during 2006. Sociodemographic data (age and sex) and other information concerning disease stage, hypertension, obesity, chronic complications and attending control appointments were collected using a structured form.161 (32%) of the patients had chronic complications, the most frequently occurring being neuropathy (41%) and nephropathy (29%). More complications were found in older patients. Neuropathy predominated in women (48.1%) and nephropathy in men (45.6%); 80% of the patients were suffering from hypertension. There was no significant difference between those who had complications and those who did not (83.2 % and 77.2%, respectively). Only 29% of the patients had normal weight, the rest were obese (31%) or overweight (40%). Patients with complications attended control appointments less frequently.Body weight control strategies must be strengthened, as must hypertension and foot care strategies. An active search for retinopathy must be made to postpone or prevent the onset of chronic complications.