Seizures can be devastating for children and the families who care for them. Most seizures can be controlled with medication, but some children do not respond to medication. Lutheran Children's Hospital offers a Ketogenic diet program to help control seizures. The Ketogenic diet team consists of a board-certified pediatric neurologist who serves as medical director, a certified pediatric dietician who serves as program coordinator, a pediatric pharmacist and pediatric nurses.
What is it?
The Ketogenic diet is a special high-fat, low carbohydrate diet that helps control seizures in people with epilepsy. It is prescribed by a physician and carefully monitored by a dietician.
Who will it help?
Doctors usually recommend the Ketogenic diet for children whose seizures have not responded to medications. Studies show that one-third of children treated with the Ketogenic diet have greater than 90 percent seizure control, and half of those children become seizure free. Another third gain a 50 percent reduction in seizures, and the remaining third discontinue the diet due to ineffectiveness and/or difficulty with the diet. Unfortunately, there is no way to predict how a child will respond to the diet, but early positive effects usually mean the diet will have some degree of benefit.
How do I enter my child into the Program?
Patients are referred to the program by their neurologist. Prior to starting the diet, families meet with the dietician and pharmacist. Initiation of the diet requires a three to four day hospitalization. During this time, caregivers are taught how to care for a child who is on the Ketogenic diet. Parents learn about vitamin and mineral supplementation, over-the-counter products, food selection, food weighing and food calculating using personal recipes and the online program. Caregivers receive detailed instruction by the pharmacist and the dietician who maintain contact with them following discharge. Children are seen in the clinic on a regular basis while on the diet. The average time a child stays on the diet is two years.
Call ( 260) 435-7993 for additional information
The Charlie Foundation
The Charlie Foundation was established in 1994 in order to raise awareness about the ketogenic diet as a treatment for childhood epilepsy. The foundation's role is to facilitate investigation, educate professionals and inform families about the current status of the ketogenic diet. Click here to visit The Charlie Foundation.
