Vitamins aren’t just “supplements.”

They are signals your body uses to repair, protect, and restore balance especially when you’re managing diabetes. Nature has already given us what we need. We just have to understand and use it right. Each vitamin plays a distinct role in helping your body heal from within. Here are 7 most important ones - B3, B6, B9, B12, C, D, and E.

1. Vitamin B3 helps produce energy.
↳ Top food source: Peanuts. If you're allergic to peanuts, you can get it from whole wheat and brown rice.

2. Vitamin B6 helps make proteins and supports the production of "happy" brain hormones. You'll find it richly in bananas.

3. Vitamin B9 is being deeply researched for longevity because it helps in cell formation and even supports DNA repair.

Its best natural form, methyl folate, is found in spinach. So, if you keep having banana-spinach smoothies, you'll live longer and healthier.

4. Vitamin B12 naturally comes only from bacteria meaning it's found in fermented or decaying organic matter. Try to include kanji or kombucha as good sources.

5. Vitamin C is an excellent antioxidant and immunity booster.
Top source: Amla (Indian gooseberry).

6. Vitamin D - everyone knows this one!
Top source: Sunlight.
Most of us don't expose ourselves enough to the sun we should. If your levels are below 30, take injections. If between 30–60, take tablets (under doctor's advice).

For Vitamin B12, if your level is below 250, take injections; between 250–500, take tablets.

7. Finally, Vitamin E - a powerful antioxidant.

It helps reduce oxidative stress in your cells from hair and skin to the liver, pancreas, kidneys, and even the heart. Top source: Sunflower seeds. So, eat plenty of sunflower seeds, bananas, spinach, peanuts, brown rice, wheat, and amla and keep improving your health.

Of course, these suggestions do not replace medical tests. Always get your tests done and follow your doctor's advice.

Courtesy: Dr. Pramod Tripathi