Training and start-up
Children attend a two-week training and start-up stay at SSE with a parent or guardian. For adults, both the length and content of the stay are adapted to the patient’s needs. During the admission, patients receive close follow-up from a clinical dietitian, nurse and doctor. Towards the end of the stay, the department offers training to other close contacts via video consultation.
Principles of the diet
Before starting diet treatment, energy requirements are calculated and the diet is planned based on normal requirements. Fluid requirements are calculated based on body weight. Food and fluids are distributed evenly throughout the day, and everything that has been measured out should be eaten and drunk. Regularity and accuracy are important for achieving an effect. Vitamin and mineral supplements are necessary.
Meals
Meals in the classic ketogenic diet are calculated precisely, and all ingredients are weighed on a digital scale accurate to 0.1 grams. Ketogenic meals often look small, even though they contain enough energy. This is because fat takes up much less space and binds less water than the carbohydrate-rich foods we are used to eating.
The carbohydrates in meals mainly come from vegetables, fruit, berries, nuts and seeds. Plenty of fat is recommended, for example from oils, margarine and high-fat dairy products. You can also eat some protein-rich foods, such as chicken, meat, fish, eggs and cheese.
Tube feeding
Special products designed for the ketogenic diet are available for patients who use tube feeding.
When can treatment be expected to take effect?
It usually takes some time before we see an effect from diet treatment. We recommend trying the diet for at least three months. During this time, adjustments to the ratio and the amount of energy and carbohydrates may sometimes be needed to determine what provides the best seizure reduction
More information about the diet team