The UF Precision Ketogenic Therapy program staffs a Pediatric PKT Clinic and an Adult PKT Clinic to provide PKT throughout the lifespan with a smooth transition from pediatric clinic to adult clinic as children age up to adults. The following step-by-step process for starting PKT at the University of Florida details the different types of visits and preparations required for successful initiation and follow-up.

• Steps to PKT: The first step is a referral to either Pediatric Neurology or Adult Neurology for PKT using the current referral form on their websites. The first visit is to discuss PKT details including the pros and cons for the individual. If the family would like to proceed, safety labs are ordered to ensure that no conditions exist that would potentially worsen with a high fat diet.

• Pre-Initiation procedures: If the safety labs do not indicate any concerns, an in-person clinic visit involves signing informed consent, discussing medical history, and taking body measurements and vitals.

• Diet recall and seizure records: Patients are asked to provide a 3-day diet diary and seizure records to help tailor the diet and monitor baseline seizure activity for evaluating therapy progress.

• Preparation for initiation: Before starting PKT, a personalized diet prescription is created along with a list of necessary supplies and foods to be obtained in advance to ensure proper meal preparation during initiation.

• Initiation phase details: Initiation usually occurs at home via telehealth. Preinitiation telehealth helps the caregiver learn meal preparation, supplement administration, and ketone and hydration monitoring with staff support. A telehealth visit on the day of initiation facilitates assistance and suggestions from PKT staff as the first meal is prepared.

• Adjusting to PKT lifestyle: Meal planning, weighing ingredients, and record keeping are key lifestyle adjustments that become routine over time.

• Follow-up visits and telemedicine: Follow-up clinic visits with the neurologists and PKT staff together monitor progress, adjust diet as needed using seizure and intake records, and integrate PKT as a component of neurological care. Telehealth visits are available to those who need them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main stages in the Precision Ketogenic Therapy (PKT) program at the University of Florida?
The PKT program consists of four main stages: the Discuss PKT Visit, Pre-Initiation, Initiation, and follow-up visits, each designed to gradually introduce and monitor patients on the PKT diet to ensure their safety and effective adaptation to the therapy.

What are the key preparations required before starting PKT Initiation?
Preparations include gathering necessary equipment and food items, submitting a 3-day diet diary, sharing favorite foods, and providing seizure records to tailor the therapy and track progress effectively.

What does the Initiation phase involve, and how does it support patients and families?
Initiation is usually completed at home via telehealth, during which PKT staff instruction in meal preparation, supplement administration, and record keeping, aiming to build patient and caregiver competence and confidence with PKT.

What adjustments should patients expect when integrating PKT into daily life?
Patients should be prepared for changes like weighing meals, planning the time of meals, and keeping daily records, but these tasks typically become more routine over time.

How are follow-up visits structured, and what is their purpose?
Follow-up visits are scheduled at specific intervals to monitor progress, adjust prescriptions if needed, collect measurements, and address concerns, with the option for telemedicine offered for patients who need it.