Ketogenic therapy is gaining traction in mental health care, and a new consensus paper helps bring structure to how it can actually be used in practice.

The recently published paper, “Awareness and Best Practices in Using Ketogenic Therapy to Treat Serious Mental Illness: A Modified Delphi Consensus,” brings together expert opinion on how ketogenic metabolic therapy (KMT) can be used in conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. 

And while this isn’t a randomized controlled trial, it’s something arguably just as important at this stage: alignment among clinicians who are actually doing the work.

For many people following a ketogenic diet, ketone numbers quickly become the focal point. A meter reading can feel like a score. A higher number may feel like success. A lower number may feel like something went wrong.

But ketone levels are not a grade. They are simply a piece of information.

Understanding what ketone numbers actually represent, and what they do not, can help reduce unnecessary confusion and allow you to focus on what matters most: how your body is responding over time.

Starting a therapeutic ketogenic diet can feel overwhelming—especially for individuals who have tried “keto” before and found it confusing, unsustainable, or ineffective. One of the most common concerns we hear is simple: What actually happens after the introductory call?

At Advanced Ketogenic Therapies (AKT), ketogenic metabolic therapy is not delivered as a generic plan or a fixed set of rules. It is built through a guided, step-by-step process designed around the individual, supported by clinicians, and adjusted over time to support long-term success.

Ketogenic diets are often presented as a simple, one-size-fits-all solution, but in clinical and therapeutic settings, ketogenic metabolic therapy (KMT) is something very different. It is not a trend, a template, or a short-term dietary reset—it is a structured nutrition strategy designed to influence metabolism in a deliberate and individualized way.