About Libby Hugo, Dietician cda spokane

About

My Philosophy

I’m what I call a foods-first dietitian, meaning I believe food to be a foundation for good health, and I aim to treat and manage conditions, when possible, with food first, then potentially supplementation if necessary. The pillars to my unique approach are outlined below.

Libby Hugo, RDN, CDE

I am a licensed Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) providing nutrition counseling for individuals, families, and groups. I specialize in Medical Nutrition Therapy for diabetes and weight management, but see patients for a wide range of conditions, including high cholesterol and high blood pressure, gastrointestinal disorders, in addition to elimination diets, food allergies and intolerances, and general wellness. I see patients in-person as well as via telehealth.

Specialities

Weight Management

Heart Health

Diabetes | Blood Sugar Control

General Healthy Eating

My Background

I graduated from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor of Science degree in Food & Nutrition. Although I am a separate entity, I practice out of the Selkirk Endocrinology office in Post Falls, Idaho.

As a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, I stay up-to-date on the latest evidence-based research and continuing education in my field in order to enhance my knowledge and skills. I am also a certified diabetes educator (CDE) through the Certification Board of Diabetes Care and Education.

I have always had an interest in improving the health and well-being of others around me and helping to strengthen my community, and I love to do that with something as fundamental and wholesome as food. Nutrition has always been a passion of mine. I chose the profession because it served as a great platform to help everyday people in their everyday lives, and also so I could use what I learn in my own personal life. I’ve always been intrigued by food—its culinary preparation and presentation, its use as the center of cultural and family traditions, and of course, its medicinal health benefits.

When I’m not working, you can find me in my garden, hiking, camping, cooking, or spending time with family.

My Approach

I am not the type of dietitian to instruct you to stop any of your medications and rely on food or supplementation alone to treat any medical conditions you may have; instead, I believe very strongly in working side-by-side with the rest of your healthcare team to provide a multi-disciplinary approach to your health to help you achieve optimal health outcomes. Also, I do not teach dieting, but rather ways to incorporate healthy lifestyle changes into your life, which serve to create new eating habits for you to continue throughout your lifetime; this is very different from the widespread crash-course diets offered that entice consumers with the promise of fast results, which is more often than not, unhealthy. My approach allows for a more realistic and practical treatment and, therefore, better success in achieving long-term and sustainable results. It is my belief that the path to sustainable change may take time and requires motivation and accountability, as well as healthy recommendations that are able to be incorporated into your current lifestyle. I’m a full-time working mom and I understand that our hectic lives can make change difficult, but I am here to help you find ways to overcome these obstacles by working with you to establish realistic goals. All nutrition care plans are personalized to each patient’s specific health goals and preferences. My nutrition advice is always based on evidence-based scientific research. I do not make any recommendations to you that do not have a solid foundation in credible, published research.