Skip over main navigation
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
The Daisy Garland

  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Contact Us Donate
Menu
  • About Us
    • What We Do
    • Daisy's Story
    • Our charity film
    • Our team
    • Our patrons
    • Latest news
    • COVID-19
  • About childhood epilepsy
    • What is childhood epilepsy?
    • Types of epilepsy
    • Treatment for epilepsy
    • Medication & side effects
    • Vitamins & minerals
    • First aid for seizures
    • Monitor grant enquiry form
  • The Ketogenic Diet
    • What Is the ketogenic diet?
    • Ketogenic FAQs
    • Our Ketogenic Dietitians
    • Daisy's Keto Café
    • Recipes from Daisy's Keto Café
    • Keto Café Recipe Videos
    • Daisy Garland ketogenic resources
    • Request ketogenic resources
  • Support our work
    • Donate
    • Christmas Appeal
    • Christmas Quiz Pack
    • Desperately seeking fundraisers
    • Ways to fundraise
    • Our fundraisers
    • Create a fundraising page
    • Request a fundraising pack
    • Attend our events
  • Stories & Impact
    • Stories
    • Share your story
    • Purple Day 2020
    • Our impact and achievements
    • Our newsletters
  • Our Daisy shop
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • what-is-the-ketogenic-diet
  1. The Ketogenic Diet
  2. What Is the ketogenic diet?

What is the ketogenic diet?

The ketogenic diet has been devised to help manage difficult to control epilepsy.  Discovered in the 1920s the ketogenic diet is a medically supervised high fat diet, low in carbohydrate with enough protein for growth. The diet is carefully calculated for each individual child dependent on their age, dietary requirements and activity level.   You will need a referral from your GP, consultant or epilepsy nurse to access the ketogenic diet.  

Statistics show that

  • half the children on the ketogenic diet will see a 50% seizure improvement
  • one third will see more than 90% improvement
  • around 10-15% will be seizure-free

How does the ketogenic diet work?

The diet aims to copy the effect of fasting. When we fast our bodies use fats instead of carbohydrates as the major energy source. When fat is used as energy, ketones are produced. This process reduces seizures in some people. We do not know exactly why it works but the results can be very beneficial.  Please be sure to browse our Daisy Garland ketogenic recipes page.

   

Meet Ben and read how with the help of The Daisy Garland, the ketogenic diet transformed his life. 

Ben's story

GLUT1 deficiency syndrome (GLUT1 DS)

The ketogenic diet is the only effective treatment for GLUT1 DS, so for children like six year old Charlotte (below), the ketogenic diet is an absolute life-line.

In Charlotte's story below, mum Joanna, explains why our support has completely transformed her daughter's life.  

Charlotte's story

Our personal experience of the ketogenic diet, by Sara and David Garland

We truly believe that the ketogenic diet prolonged Daisy's life, rescued us as a family, and as Daisy's mum, saved my sanity! Anticonvulsant medication failed to control the hundreds of seizures Daisy was having on a daily basis.  The ketogenic diet was the miracle we had been praying for and we cannot recommend it highly enough for children who have drug-resistant epilepsy. We discovered the ketogenic diet at the end of 1998 when we were given the film 'First Do No Harm'. After much persuasion on our part (very little was known about the diet in the UK at the time) Daisy was admitted to hospital to start the ketogenic diet. She was just twenty-two months old.  The positive effects of the diet were immediate - it was as if a veil had been lifted. The diet brought increased alertness and overall development, better sleep patterns, and Daisy's seizures reduced in frequency and severity.  Within seven months of starting the ketogenic diet Daisy was drug free. To follow this storyline further, please refer to Daisy's story. If you have a child with drug-resistant epilepsy, please consider the ketogenic diet as a suitable treatment option. If it worked for Daisy there is no reason why it won't work for your child too.  

If your child has tried two anticonvulsant medications that have failed to provide seizure control please consider contacting your GP, consultant or epilepsy nurse to request a ketogenic referral 

Classical ketogenic diet

Expand

The classical diet is based on a ratio of fat to protein and carbohydrate.  Most of the fat in the diet comes from cream, butter, oil and other naturally fatty foods.  Each meal has the same balance of fat, protein and carbohydrate and each part needs to be carefully weighed to the nearest gram.  

This diet is particularly useful for young children and tube-fed children.  A normal diet should contain around 50% carbohydrate, 35% fat and 15% protein, but the classical diet contains up to:

  • 90% fat
  • 6% protein
  • 4% carbohydrate

Published: 1st July, 2019

Updated: 5th May, 2020

Author: Karen Wyett

Related topics:
  • What is the ketogenic diet?
Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

MCT diet

Expand

This diet includes some fat that occurs naturally in food, as well as some from a supplement of medium chain triglycerides (MCT) fat.  This supplement can be mixed into food or milk and is only available on prescription.  When the MCT is broken down for energy it produces more ketones and as a result more carbohydrate is allowed than on other ketogenic diets.

This diet is used for all children and can be helpful in school age children as the slightly increased carbohydrate allowance means they can include some familiar foods. The MCT diet contains:

  • 75% to 90% fat (30%-60% MCT)
  • 10% protein
  • 10% to 15% carbohydrate.

Published: 2nd July, 2019

Updated: 25th September, 2019

Author: Karen Wyett

Related topics:
  • What is the ketogenic diet?
Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Modified ketogenic diet (MKD)

Expand

This diet is similar to the weight loss ‘Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution’ diet but weight loss is not the goal.  It is high in fat and low in carbohydrate but is less restrictive than the traditional ketogenic diet, and has been shown to be well tolerated and an effective therapy for drug-resistant epilepsy.

This diet is useful for older children as it can give more flexibility.  It focuses on a carbohydrate restriction of 15g to 20g per day, with free protein and fat, although fat needs to be encouraged for good ketosis.  The calories are not controlled as in other diets, so it is important that weight and growth are monitored closely.  The MKD contains:

  • 65% fat
  • 30% protein
  • 5% carbohydrate.

Published: 3rd July, 2019

Updated: 25th September, 2019

Author: Karen Wyett

Related topics:
  • What is the ketogenic diet?
Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Low GI treatment (LGIT)

Expand

The LGIT is a high fat diet similar to the ketogenic diet.  It focuses on both the type and amount of carbohydrate consumed.

The Glycemic Index (GI) is a measure of the effect of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels.  Foods are rated on their GI values ranging from 0 to 100.

The LGIT includes foods that have a GI of 50 or lower and typically restrict carbohydrates to around 40g to 60g per day.

The digestion of carbohydrate food is also slowed by eating foods containing fat or fibre at the same time.

This treatment is normally used in older children as it includes a lot of fibre, which can be challenging for younger children.  LGIT contains:

  • 60% fat
  • 30% protein
  • 10% carbohydrate

Published: 4th July, 2019

Updated: 25th September, 2019

Author: Karen Wyett

Related topics:
  • What is the ketogenic diet?
Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Back to top

Showing 10 of 4

Latest

  • Robinson

    Robinson

  • Alana

    Alana

  • Nathan

    Nathan

  • Charlie

    Charlie

Most read

  • Logan

    Logan

  • Nell

    Nell

  • Ole

    Ole

  • Aaron

    Aaron

  • William

    William

  • Scarlett

    Scarlett

  • Taylor

    Taylor

  • Blayne

    Blayne

  • Hot Off the Press!

    Hot Off the Press!

  • Orla

    Orla

Donate to The Daisy Garland

Donate to The Daisy Garland

Every single penny donated goes directly to The Daisy Garland charity helping children with drug-resistant epilepsy reach their full potential in life. Read more

Donate Fundraise

Published: 9th April, 2018

Updated: 10th November, 2020

Author:

Ketogenic FAQs

Ketogenic FAQs

Parents of children with epilepsy are pleasantly surprised at the vast array of healthy food options their child can eat on the ketogenic/Low-GI Diet Read more

Published: 27th September, 2019

Updated: 18th June, 2020

Author: Karen Wyett

COVID-19

COVID-19

COVID-19 is having a big impact on all our lives, but please be assured that The Daisy Garland is here to help you. Read more

Published: 30th April, 2020

Updated: 15th January, 2021

Author: Karen Wyett

Sign up for our newsletter

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address (e.g. [email protected])

Find us

Registered Office:  

Units A1 and A2
 
Dart Marine Park
 
Steamer Quay Road
Totnes  
 
Devon  TQ9 5AL 
 
 
 +44 (0)1803 847999  
 [email protected] 

Links

  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Registered Charity number: 1106530