Support at school

A DAUNTING PROSPECT?

When presented with a child who is on the Ketogenic Diet, or about to go on the Ketogenic Diet, it is fully understandable that this may be very worrying for all concerned. From the parents point of view, they will not be able to monitor everything that is going on at school and from a schools point of view, with resources and time already stretched, having to manage a child on a very specialist diet can be somewhat overwhelming. However, this need not be the case. The most important thing to make a Ketogenic Diet work at school is good communication between parents and the school. The Diet needs to be treated with as much respect as giving a child medication or a child with a peanut allergy. Fluctuations on this diet or even the tiniest of cheats can affect a child’s seizure control.

WHAT IS THE KETOGENIC DIET?

This is a MEDICAL dietary treatment for epilepsy and as such, must be calculated for each individual child by a qualified dietitian. It is a high fat, low carbohydrate, adequate protein and vitamin supplemented diet that can also be calorie restricted. In many children it can reduce seizures dramatically and in some, stop seizures completely. It is one of the oldest forms of epilepsy treatments available but it fell out of favour when medication came along. There is a dramatic resurgence of interest in the diet now as drugs do not work for everyone and the Great Ormond Street Clinical Trial published in May 2008, has proved once and for all that this treatment should be considered by all those whom are resistant to medication

The Ketogenic Diet mimics starvation. During starvation, the body uses stored body fat for energy instead of stored glucose (which we get from carbohydrates and sugars). When fat is metabolised, the residue is referred to as ketones and it is the body being in this ketotic state that we think has an anticonvulsant effect, although the real reason why this diet works is still unknown. Our bodies are obviously used to and will find it easier to use glucose for energy, so giving one sweet or a tiny piece of bread to a child can reduce ketones and may cause additional seizures – so the diet has to be very strict.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CHILD STARTS THE KETOGENIC DIET?

The diet may take some getting used to as this is a big change for the child’s metabolism. Initially, there may be issues with tolerability like nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps, depending on which version of the diet a child receives, however, these side effects can be minimal and easily overcome by adjustment of the diet. Communicate with the parents if you have any concerns, as they will be in regular contact with their dietitian. Initially the most common problem can be excess ketosis and with this you may notice that the face may become red or appear flushed. The child may also become agitated or overly lethargic. If you have any concerns regarding this, a small amount of juice or another high sugar drink should be given and within 15 minutes, the child should be better. If no improvement is seen then medical opinion should be sought. If you are in any doubt of this then contact the parents IMMEDIATELY who will liaise with you and communicate with the dietitian directly. If this situation persists, it may be that the child needs an adjustment to the diet but the parents should keep you fully informed.

To monitor this treatment, the child will need to be weighed probably weekly, height checked monthly and urine will need to be tested morning and night by the parents to measure urinary ketones. In some cases, blood ketones will be tested by finger prick. The child will have regular check-ups with the neurologist, dietitian and specialist nurse to monitor progress including blood testing.

Excess bruising

When on the Ketogenic Diet, it seems that children can bruise a lot easier than when they are on a normal diet. This is a KNOWN side effect of this treatment and in some instances, the slightest knock or bang can cause a nasty bruise.

P.E & Games

If the child is spending extra energy e.g. swimming or P.E, it may mean that extra calories are needed. The parents can send in an extra snack that can be given prior to this activity. If you notice that the child is becoming particularly tired after a P.E session, or lethargic for the rest of the day, then please talk to the parents and let them know and they will be able to liaise with their dietitian to send in extra snacks to counteract this problem. It may be useful to supply the dietitian with the child’s school timetable.

SCHOOL MEAL TIMES

The most important thing to remember is the child cannot eat anything that is not provided by the parents

It’s important that the child eats ALL the food that has been provided, so what you will need to do is make sure the child is supervised adequately. This means that at any food times, all food and drink that is necessary on that child’s diet is eaten. This may mean that a teaching assistant has to scrape the bowl out for the remainder of the fat to be eaten. Obviously there will be occasions when the child will not finish everything and if there are any problems with the child’s eating, then it is a good idea to mark it down in their home book. If it is really proving a struggle and the child will not eat anything, then this must be communicated to the parents.

Each meal is a balance of fat, protein and carbohydrates given at regular intervals throughout the day. All food must be eaten, especially if oil is left from any meal as this may well contain a high proportion of fat that is needed for that child. Some children may have a supplemented drink as part of their meal; this must be taken with or just after the meal. It is very important that the fat part of the meal is eaten. If the child is having problems eating the whole meal, let the parents know that it may be better to supply all-in-one meals so that however much is eaten it will be in the right proportion of fat, protein and carbohydrate. If you feel that problems with eating seem to be behaviour related then please discuss this with the parents where suitable programmes of behaviour can be set up between school and home.

Most children will want to eat with the other children as usual and will be part of special occasions. With advanced warning, parents will be able to send in a special snack or a treat so the child can be included. Water is unrestricted, some low calorie squash and most low calorie fizzy drinks are okay as long as the parents have consented to their child being given them. Parents and carers will try and fit in with the daily school routine, if there is a snack time, a snack can be brought in. It may be useful to have copies of the school menus so that a Keto version of the day’s meals can be sent in where possible and re-heated if allowed. Hot Keto meals can also be brought in using a flask if re-heating is not permitted.

Cookery lessons

This is a challenge. There is no doubt about it and there are some children on the diet that become intent on cheating and will eat anything they can and in these cases it may be prudent to give an alternative option. The majority though, are happy to continue cooking with the other children and providing enough notice is given, may be able to make a Keto version that they can actually eat. Alternatively, children are often happy to make the same as other children and take pleasure in bringing home what they have made for their families.

Food can be used for many subjects in school, in history we can taste what the food would have been like in Victorian times, we can experience an Egyptian banquet (this has been one that has come home from school before) and we know that this has been the case for a lot of our parents as we have received a lot of phone calls requesting help with a menu plan for an β€˜historic banquet’! Using cooking in special needs schools seems a very popular way of teaching children. This CAN still be achieved with a child on the Ketogenic Diet but this is where the good communication with the parents is so important. If the teacher knows that they are going to be using food as part of their lesson plan over the next few days or following week, then notes need to be sent home to the parents to see if there is some way they can incorporate a child’s Ketogenic food in with what the rest of the class is doing.

 

SCHOOL TRIPS

There is no reason why a child on the Ketogenic Diet cannot be included in school trips, plays and other such school activities. Some trips will often involve food and this should not mean that a child cannot go. Packed lunches have to be sent in usually for the child. Many parents are happy to be helpers on school trips and this may be an option for a child on Ketogenic Therapy.

REWARD SYSTEMS & SCHOOL PARTIES

Some schools give sweets or chocolate as a reward for good work but it is becoming more common with the healthy schools programme that healthy alternatives are offered instead. However, those healthy alternatives can prove not so healthy for children on the ketogenic diet, so we suggest a small gift system, such as pencils or rubbers or age appropriate capability gifts/rewards can be used instead as well as the usual star charts.

As for parties – again with communication to the parents, Ketogenic party food can be sent if for the child. Some parents also provide school with sugar free jellies or sugar free ice pops that can be kept and given out to the children – but again this is a plan that you can discuss with the parents. Sugar free jelly or sugar free ice pops are good to use because ALL the children can have them, helping the child to feel included.

HAPPY CHILDREN

Sometimes the drugs just don’t work and some children can suffer with such awful side effects that their quality of life can be seriously affected. The Ketogenic Diet could possibly offer two thirds of children a greater than 50% reduction in their seizures and for some complete seizure freedom. At its best, the Ketogenic Diet treatment can increase alertness, improve motor skills, improve cognitive skills, bring seizure freedom, reduce seizures, reduce severity of seizures, improve behaviour, decrease medication or stop all medication, reduce hospital admissions, reduce time off school and improve the quality of life for the whole family. Meals may look small and the children cannot have the same sweets that their friends may have but the benefits that can be witnessed with this treatment can generally outweigh these concerns. A positive attitude towards the treatment is a HUGE help to the child and their families. If you notice the child becoming fed up with the treatment (and this will happen from time to time) then let the parents know and simple changes can be made that may make a huge difference to the child and hopefully help them overcome whatever negative feelings they may have on occasions. The most important thing that EVERYBODY needs to do is give a positive attitude towards this diet and lots of encouragement and praise always welcome, especially in the beginning.