Conditions We Treat

Ketogenic diet therapy is an effective treatment option for a variety of seizures and metabolic disorders. By achieving a state of ketosis, where the body primarily uses fat rather than carbohydrates for energy, the ketogenic diet can dramatically impact the frequency of seizures. Ketosis is achieved by following a carefully calculated diet rich in fats, with adequate protein and minimal carbohydrates.

The exact mechanism by which ketosis helps control epilepsy is not fully understood. However, it is believed the metabolic shift leading to the production of ketones changes brain chemistry. Ketones, produced by fat breakdown and excreted in the urine, are thought to have an anti-seizure effect.

When overseen by experts in our specialized Epilepsy Program at Phoenix Children’s, this approach is both safe and effective for epilepsy treatment. This therapy functions similarly to a medication, precisely calculated to manage seizure frequency and intensity, especially in cases where other treatments have failed.

While not every child will achieve complete seizure freedom, a significant majority experience beneficial outcomes from this dietary therapy. Your child may experience one or more of the following:

• Decreased seizure duration (for example, a seizure may last less than 30 seconds instead of several minutes)
• Fewer seizures and reduced severity and intensity of seizures
• Increased alertness
• Lower dose and/or fewer anti-seizure medications needed

What to Expect

Although some forms of epilepsy are more likely to respond better to ketogenic therapy, it is not always possible to tell which child will have a positive response.

Medical supervision is provided by our comprehensive ketogenic team which includes an epileptologist, physician’s assistant, nurse, pharmacist, psychologist and a trained ketogenic dietitian. This multidisciplinary oversight is crucial to the success of this therapy.

While some children experience a dramatic decrease in seizures within the first week or two, others may not see improvements for several months. For this reason, we ask families to commit to this therapy for at least three to four months. If ketogenic therapy works for your child, most patients maintain therapy for an average of 2 to 3 years, although some children may be on the diet for a longer period.

Our program exclusively starts ketogenic therapy on an outpatient basis, allowing parents to determine the pace of the transition to the diet. This approach reduces side effects and avoids the stress associated with hospital admission for initiating ketogenic therapy. After completing diet education with our ketogenic dieticians, and when the family feels ready to proceed, it typically takes 3 to 4 days for children with tube feedings to fully transition to the ketogenic diet. For children who eat by mouth, the transition can take 3 to 4 weeks.

Our program has also developed an innovative, first-of-its-kind outpatient home monitoring program, allowing families to report their child’s progress directly to our ketogenic team conveniently through a smartphone application. You and your child will receive more information about enrolling in our outpatient home monitoring program once you begin education with our ketogenic team.