Severe ketoacidosis in a non-diabetic lactating woman on a ketogenic diet

Ketogenic diets are high fat, moderate protein, low carbohydrate diets with carbohydrate content usually less than 50 g/day. They are a novel intervention in the management of obesity and there is emerging evidence that they are very effective. Evidence regarding the long-term efficacy and safety of this rather new and popular intervention is still emerging and there is a lack of data on the effect of this diet in specific populations such as breast feeding women. We describe a case of severe ketoacidosis in a non-diabetic breast feeding woman who was successfully treated with conservative measures. This case highlights the need by medical and dietetic professionals for extra caution in initiating special dietary measures in susceptible physiological states.