Skip to Main Content

Sonia Caprio, MD

Professor of Pediatrics (Endocrinology)
DownloadHi-Res Photo

About

Titles

Professor of Pediatrics (Endocrinology)

Biography

I have been involved in Patient-Oriented Research in the field of Childhood Obesity and Type 2 diabetes (T2D) in youth for the past 25 years. Realizing the need to understand the pathophysiology and to find better treatments for T2D in Obese Youth, I have been investigating the role of insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction at the earliest stage of T2D, namely Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT). My research in pre-diabetes in obese children and adolescents has brought into focus at the national level the magnitude of the obesity problem in children in the US. This research demonstrated a much faster tempo of progression of beta-cell failure in obese adolescents, which helped to stimulate the funding of two NIDDK RCTs in obese youth; The TODAY and RISE studies. In recognition of the importance of this work, in 2008 Dr. Caprio was awarded the prestigious “Distinguished Clinical Scientist Award (DCSA)” from the American Diabetes Association. Her research spans both clinical and basic research in metabolism, genetics, and imaging and is the recipient of the “Distinguished Leader in Insulin Resistance” 2015 Award from the International Committee for Insulin Resistance (ICIR). Over the past decade, our group has assembled two large multiethnic cohorts of children/adolescents cohorts: The Pathogenesis of Youth Onset Diabetes (PYOD) study (NCT01967849), (R01HD040787, R01DK111038), and The Yale Pediatric NAFLD/NASH Cohort (NCT01966627), which served as the vehicle for a series of studies aimed at investigating the roles of insulin resistance, beta-cell dysfunction and NAFLD in the earliest stage of T2D: Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT).

Appointments

Other Departments & Organizations

Education & Training

Fellow
Yale University School of Medicine (1989)
Resident
Temple University Hospital (1983)
Resident
Universita' di Medicina e Chirurgia (1980)
Resident
Ospedale Cardarelli (1980)
MD
Universita di Medicina e Chirurgia (1978)

Research

Overview

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

Endocrinology; Insulin; Obesity; Pediatric Obesity; Pediatrics; Prediabetic State

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Sonia Caprio's published research.

Publications

2024

2023

2014

Clinical Trials

Current Trials

Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

  • honor

    2001-2011 K24 Investigator Award in Patient Oriented Research

  • honor

    2003 Bayer Scholar Award in Diabetes Research

  • honor

    2008-2012 Distinguished Clinical Scientist Award, American Diabetes Association

  • honor

    2015 Distinguished Leader in Insulin Resistance Award, International Committee for Insulin Resistance (ICIR)

  • honor

    2017 The Samuel J. Fomon Nutrition Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics

Clinical Care

Overview

Sonia Caprio, MD, is a pediatric endocrinologist and an expert in childhood type 2 diabetes and obesity. She also treats fatty liver disease, genetic disorders that cause high cholesterol and metabolic syndrome, abnormalities associated with heart disease and type 2 diabetes. She tells new patients and their parents: “Both pre-diabetes and early onset of type 2 diabetes can be prevented. Often only minor changes in dietary intake and minimal weight loss together with more physical activity will help chase diabetes away.”

In treating childhood obesity and diabetes, Yale Medicine physicians focus on the family as well as the child, Dr. Caprio says. Therapies include a unique weight management plan for the entire family, she says. The practice also uses cutting-edge genetic testing to better understand a patient’s metabolism.

A professor of pediatrics (endocrinology) at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Caprio is a leading researcher of childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes. Her work seeks to better understand the causes of insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion in obese children. She received the 2015 Distinguished Leader in Insulin Resistance Award from the International Committee for Insulin Resistance.

Clinical Specialties

Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes; Diabetes Medicine & Management

Fact Sheets

Yale Medicine News

Get In Touch

Contacts

Academic Office Number
Appointment Number
Office Fax Number
Clinic Fax Number
Mailing Address

Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes

PO Box 208064

New Haven, CT 06520-8064

United States

Administrative Support

Locations

  • Patient Care Locations

    Are You a Patient? View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.