The ketogenic diet is a very high fat, low carbohydrate, medically supervised diet. It is used as a treatment option for adults and children with drug resistant epilepsy and certain metabolic conditions.

The ketogenic diet requires close monitoring by your Epilepsy Team and Specialist Ketogenic Dietitian. Monitoring includes clinic appointments, growth monitoring and blood tests every 3-6 months, depending on the stage of the ketogenic diet.
 
Typically, the ketogenic diet is trialled for 3 months and will only be continued if there is a 50% reduction in seizures. If the ketogenic diet is continued you will remain on it for 2 years, or longer, depending on your diagnosis. This means that you may transition to adult services whilst still on  it. The Ketogenic Dietitians at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children will support you until you transition.
 
Adult services that support the ketogenic diet are currently more limited than paediatric services. You can talk to your Epilepsy Team about the adult services available to help decide which one may be best for you.

Please see our Neurology and Ketogenic Dietetic Service page for more information.