Starting the Ketogenic Diet

Gwenny with her little purple pumpkin.

Paint one of your pumpkins purple this Halloween to show your support for Epilepsy awareness!

We started the Ketogenic diet this week for seizure control and to lower  (and hopefully discontinue) Gwenny's seizure meds.  The diet is high fat, adequate protein, low carb and makes the body think it is fasting.  Something about the fasting state (or the body burning fat instead of glucose) can control seizures in some people.

Primary Children's policy is to admit a child into the hospital when starting the Keto diet so they can monitor glucose and the body's reaction to the diet change.  We expected to be in PCMC for three days, but Gwenny was doing so well they let us go home after two days, one night.  This was wonderful news, as they were pricking her finger every four hours all day and night!

Our visitors playing with Gwenny.

PCMC is definitely set up for children.  They had a wagon available for Gwenny to ride in whenever we left our room, which she really enjoyed. 

 We took a trip to the play room when we had some free time between meals, doctor visits and blood checks.

Hospital Keto meal:  cream, egg, sausage, cheese.

Hospital Keto meal: chicken, avocado, cauliflower and cream/cheese sauce.

Gwenny's little friend that came on her food tray.

This is a Keto strip.  We put cotton balls in Gwenny's diaper and test her urine four times a day to make sure her ketones are in the moderate to high range.  (Ketones are like a sort of "ash" in the blood and urine when the body is burning fat instead of glucose.)

This is the first Keto meal I measured out by myself.  Meatballs, sweet potato, broccoli, cauliflower, butter, cream cheese, and cream.  Everything is measured exactly on a scale.



Almond crackers:  almond flour, macadamia nut flour, olive oil, egg white and salt. 
(Gwenny loves these!)