Abstract
Ketogenic diets are high-fat, low-carbohydrate diets designed to alter metabolism,
induce nutritional ketosis, and reduce seizures in patients with epilepsy. In the
past 15 to 20 years, the diets have been refined, gaining momentum in the treatment
of resistant epilepsy. As ketogenic diets have gained popularity for treatment of
pediatric epilepsies, an increasing number of adolescents treated with dietary therapy
are approaching the age of transitioning their care to adult providers. Transition
of care for this vulnerable population brings unique challenges posed by a paucity
of adult providers who prescribe ketogenic diets, a lack of adult nutritionists trained
in dietary therapy for epilepsy, and reluctance of pediatric patients to transition
care. In this article, we will discuss the rationale for establishing transition protocols
for young adult patients with epilepsy and present guidelines for transition of care
for patients treated with dietary therapy for epilepsy.
Keywords
epilepsy - transition - ketogenic diet
