Ketogenic Diet starting Monday June, 13th

What is the Ketogenic Diet?

The ketogenic diet is a special high-fat diet that is used to treat seizures. Whipping cream, fats and vegetable oils are used to provide the necessary fat. The diet eliminates foods such as sweets, bread, cereal, pasta, and milk. All foods must be carefully prepared and weighed on a gram scale. Each meal must be eaten in its entirety for the diet to be the most effective.

How does the diet work?

The special combination of foods in the ketogenic diet causes the body to use mostly fat for energy. The body makes ketones as an end result and the state of ketosis somehow helps with seizures and brain activity. The exact cause is unknown.

How effective is the diet at controlling or eliminating seizures?

Studies that have followed children on the diet for long periods reveal 1/3 of children treated with the ketogenic diet have greater than 90% seizure control with half of these children becoming seizure free. An additional 1/3 gain a 50% reduction in seizures. The remaining 1/3 discontinue the diet due to its ineffectiveness or its difficulty.

How is the diet initiated?

The diet is initiated under close medical supervision in the hospital. The diet is started gradually and increased to the full amount over a 3 to 5 day period. During this time blood sugar and ketone levels are monitored. The child may go home when he or she is tolerating the fullketogenic diet.

How soon does it take for the diet to reduce or eliminate seizures?

The diet can become effective immediately or can take several months. Each child is unique and has different seizure patterns and frequency. There is usually improvement within the first 14 weeks on the ketogenic diet.

Is the diet healthy?

The diet alone is inadequate in many vitamins and minerals. Supplements will be prescribed while on ketogenic diet therapy. The diet is used for 2 to 3 years. A regular diet is then resumed.

How can you as friends and family help?

We are not holding back information from Noah about his epilepsy, but we are trying our best to allow him to live as much of a fun and carefree life as a 5 year old boy should. This being said, we ask that you talk to us about his epilepsy and such, when Noah isn't around.

It is very important for Noah to eat only the foods that are approved for the ketogenic diet. If he finds a cracker laying around and decides to eat it, it could take him out of ketosis and back into seizures. Please do not offer him any foods or treats. Even if you know it is something that he can have while on the diet, it doesn't mean he can have it at that time. He has to have completeketogenic balance at every meal. Noah is mostly good at following instructions but this does not mean if you offer him a sucker that he will tell you no, even when he knows he cannot have one. Another thing is that any topical products such as: soaps, sunscreen, lotions, shampoos, etc all have carbohydrates in them, so he has to have special kinds of each of these products. Please ask if you have any doubts to what he may have and we will try our best to make it as clear to you as possible.

Please continue to pray for our family and especially Noah during this difficult time. At this time, we are praying that this diet would work for Noah. We are praising God that he is doing so well even while having up to 400 seizures a day. Although they may not be noticeable to everyone else they are affecting him in many different ways. Thank you all so much for your love, prayers, support, and commitment in helping us on this roller coaster of a journey.

Sample meals for Noah

Break fast: Eggs and Bacon

Butter: 16.7 grams

Bacon: 7.8 grams

Egg (XL): 38 grams

Heavy Cream: 30 grams

Lunch: Burger with Cheese

Ground round beef” 25 grams

Helluva Good cheddar cheese: 10 grams

Heavy Cream: 40 grams

Butter: 12.3 grams

Dinner: Turkey Breast with Carrots

Turkey breast: 16.7 grams

Carrots: 40 grams

Butter: 37.4 grams

Snack: Bacon and Ice Cream

Cream: 50 grams

Side pork: 21.6 grams

Canola Oil: 4.3 grams