Why does my child have to go into the hospital to start the diet?
There are several reasons for the hospital stay. The body will be switching over to the new way of obtaining energy. Although this transition is typically easy, monitoring is required in case of complications such as a drop blood sugar or acidosis. Also, medicine levels may be affected during this transition. During the hospital stay, the caregivers are taught how to administer the diet through training and hands-on application.

 

Is the diet hard to manage?
The diet is very rigid and precise. Every gram of food the child eats will be weighed on a gram scale. It is a major adjustment for the family. Meal preparation can be time consuming. Yet, if the diet eliminates the seizures, many families find the diet actually saves time overall. For mobile, independent children, the restrictions that come with the diet can be hard (no birthday cake, no candy bars, etc). But families find that the emotional stress of dealing with these limits
doesn't compare with the emotional benefits of seizure control.

 

What if my child doesn't like the food?
There is a lot of room for creativity in the diet. Most children can be satisfied and given a wide variety of choices. Older children can be involved in their meal planning. In the beginning, you may do a lot of experimenting with meal plans and recipes.

Will my child grow while on the diet?
Your doctor will continually monitor the child's growth. If adequate growth is not occurring, adjustments may be made to the child's protein intake. It is a myth that a child will not grow while on the ketogenic diet. In most instances, if proper attention is paid to meal planning, the child should develop at a normal rate.
 

With all the fat in the diet, will my child gain weight?
Because the diet is so precisely calculated, calorie control is easily handled. Your doctor will monitor you child's weight very closely. If weight gain (that is not coupled with appropriate height gain) occurs, a
calorie reduction may be in order.

 

Can a diet so high in fat be healthy?
As with anyone's diet, it is dependent on the make up of the meal plan. Fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats can be used in the ketogenic diet to maximize nutrient density of the foods. There are healthy fats that can be included. The child is given a multi-vitamin and a calcium/magnesium supplement. Your doctor will monitor your child for any deficiencies, and make any appropriate supplement adjustments.

 

Could my child go off his/her seizure medication?
This would be a judgement call of your doctor. Many children can be weaned successfully off some or all of their seizure medication once on the diet.

 

How long will my child be on the diet?
This is difficult to say, as this treatment is very individualized. Typically, after the child has been seizure free for two years, your
doctor may decide to start weaning the diet. Most of the time, this is a slow wean, taking a year or so.

 

Are there risks or side effects that accompany the diet?
Most are uncommon and can be detected or prevented with regular monitoring by your doctor, but side effects could include, but are not limited to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, "fruity" smell to the breath and urine, acidosis, kidney stones, osteoporosis, hair loss, slowed growth, weight gain, increased lipids, carnitine deficiency.

 

What are the benefits to the diet?
Obviously, the main benefit would be seizure control. Medication reduction or elimination is an important benefit to many. Some parents have reported a new alertness in their child after initiation of the diet, independent of medicine changes. Some parents have seen improved behavior and mood. ¨
 

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