If you have a child who suffers from epilepsy, it is natural to want to try everything possible to help them. Unfortunately, there are some doctors who are opposed to the Ketogenic diet and feel that there is still not enough research to support putting a child with epilepsy on it. If you think the Ketogenic diet is something you would like to try and find your doctor advises against it, you may need to find another doctor. There is a comprehensive website that can tell you where to get the Ketogenic diet. This website also lists the doctors or registered dieticians who run the program. You can find centers by country (or state in the U.S.), and the U.S. currently lists 78 centers. Click hereto find a center near you.
There are many reasons some doctors may feel the diet is not a good choice for treatment. Some feel it is not effective, it may be difficult to administer, or that families are not equipped to do it themselves.
It is important to weigh and measure everything that goes into your child’s mouth while on the diet. It may be difficult or time consuming, but it is not impossible. Many programs have a registered dietician help the family until the family knows exactly what they have to do.
Internet Helps Families Who May Live Far from a Center
If a family lives far from a Ketogenic diet center, the internet can be a beneficial tool. Doctors or registered dieticians can keep track of a patient easily. A doctor can follow up with an email, and keep track of the child’s progress that way.
The important thing to note is if you want your child to try the diet, there are options. You might have to change doctors, drive several hundreds of miles for an initial appointment at a Ketogenic diet center, and learn a new way of feeding your child. It can take a little bit of time and effort, but many children have great success with the diet. Do not lose hope if your doctor tells you the Ketogenic diet is not successful. Your relationship with the doctor is not unlike other relationships. It must be built on trust and mutual respect.
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