Search
Nina's story- Epilepsy and the ketogenic diet
In this article, Nina introduces herself and provides us with an insight into her daily life as well as her experiences with epilepsy and the ketogenic diet.
Nina's profile
Name: Nina
Country: Germany
Diagnosis: Epilepsy
Ketogenic diet since: 2019
Favourite food: cold cucumber-avocado soup
About me:
My name is Nina, I'm 30 years young, and I'm part of a loud, large, and loving blended family. I live together with my boyfriend in Upper Bavaria. There, we have created a beautiful home where we enjoy hosting friends and family. My greatest passion is baking cakes and pastries. I also find great joy in coming up with creative recipe ideas. In my free time, I like to hang out with friends in the city, go cycling, or simply relax and put my feet up :). On hot summer days, you'll find me by the lake, soaking up the sun. Professionally, I work as a speech therapist in a school and in a kindergarten for individuals with special needs. I love my job. I can empathize particularly well with children with epilepsy and their parents because I myself have epilepsy. Today, I can openly talk about it, which wasn't always the case.
My Journey to the Ketogenic Diet
At the age of 6, I had my first seizure, which was initially diagnosed as a febrile seizure. Afterward, the seizures became more frequent, and at the age of 7, I received the diagnosis of epilepsy. I used to have numerous seizures and auras weekly. After trying many ineffective medications and undergoing a somewhat unsuccessful surgery, I had to consider other options. In 2018, a neurologist in Munich recommended the ketogenic diet to me. Despite my desperation, I was initially very skeptical about this idea. I adamantly refused to change my diet. The effort seemed too significant, and I doubted its effectiveness – my suffering was not yet severe enough at that time. It was only when the seizures worsened, accompanied by panic attacks, and I was confronted with a life without independence that I saw the ketogenic diet as a possible solution.
My advice: Try to educate yourselves independently and gradually reduce carbohydrates. This will make it easier for you during the adjustment period in the clinic. Don't be discouraged if ketosis isn't always perfect or if you make mistakes in measuring. The ketogenic diet and its success are worth the effort.
The Modified Atkins Diet (MAD)
I had to wait a year for my appointment at the clinic to start the ketogenic diet. Therefore, I educated myself in advance with the help of books and started with a self-experiment. I gave up potatoes, baked goods, rice, pasta, and the like. It was not an easy step, but it simplified the start in the clinic for me enormously. Already on the first day there, I also learned about the Kanso products and was allowed to test the MCT oil, MCT margarine, and Keto CacaoBar during my stay, which made the dietary transition easier for me. My ketosis level confirmed that I responded directly to it, and my seizures also became less frequent.
Today
Today, thanks to the Modified Atkins Diet (MAD), I am doing well. Although I occasionally have seizures at night, these are usually attributable to stressful situations. The ketogenic diet is generally easy for me to follow today, with occasional exceptions. Above all, Kanso products are a great help due to their high MCT content. KetoEpi, MCTfiber, and KetoBiota are part of my daily routine. It would be untrue if I claimed to always adhere to the ketogenic diet 100 percent meticulously. Especially when dining out, I have become more relaxed and occasionally allow myself to be a bit less strict with measuring. But even in unmotivated times, I remind myself of the success and am especially grateful for the support of my boyfriend and my family. I am proud to have embarked on the path of the ketogenic diet because it has made my life easier in every way and has given me back my independence.
Starting the Keto Diet: One Step at a Time
When you receive a diagnosis of a rare disease for which there is no medicine to make it disappear, you feel like you're locked in a dark room. But when you're told that there's a therapy that can mitigate the effects of the disease, that's when the light returns...
Nothing is impossible
There are so many things we would like to share about the ketogenic diet. Monica has been on this diet since 2015, and much has changed - both in terms of meal preparation with new products on the market and in managing everyday life or special occasions. Monica has always been a cheerful and positive person.
Angelica's "Reawakening"
I am Francesca, Angelica's mother. Angelica is 12 years old, and she suffers from a chronic illness. In 2021, after unsuccessful therapies, we introduced the ketogenic diet. It was not an easy path, but in the end, this ketogenic diet improved her health and allowed her to return to dancing.