Former CIA Officer Turns to Experimental Surgery to End Diabetes

Former CIA agent John Kiriakou shares his story of living with diabetes for 21 years before
undergoing an experimental surgery that involved the complete removal of his stomach.

John Kiriakou, a former CIA officer best known for exposing details of the U.S. interrogation program, is now speaking publicly about a different battle—his fight with diabetes. After living with the disease for more than two decades, he chose an unusual and experimental path: the complete removal of his stomach.

Kiriakou explained that his decision was guided by research published in The Lancet, which showed that radical stomach surgery can restore pancreatic function in some patients. The procedure, done robotically, was not covered by insurance, forcing him to pay out of pocket. Despite the financial burden, he said the risk was worth it.

Within nine months of the operation, Kiriakou reported that he had lost 115 pounds and no longer needed insulin or diabetes medication. He describes the change as life-saving. Living without a stomach requires significant adjustment—he now eats only small amounts and no longer experiences hunger in the usual sense—but he says the tradeoff has been freedom from the daily struggle of managing blood sugar.

He also points to barriers that prevent others from pursuing this treatment. Because the surgery is rarely covered by insurance, it remains out of reach for most patients. He argues that pharmaceutical interests may discourage wider attention, since eliminating dependence on insulin could reduce a large market for diabetes drugs.

Kiriakou’s case highlights both the promise and the challenges of medical innovation. It raises questions about access, affordability, and the role of profit in shaping healthcare options. For him, the choice has been transformative, but it remains to be seen whether others will be able to follow the same path.


The Lancet study plus solid medical sources on diabetes remission after stomach surgery (and context on “stomach removal” vs standard metabolic surgery):

  • Metabolic surgery vs medical therapy for type 2 diabetes (randomized trial; primary endpoint = remission at 2 years). https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2820%2932649-0/abstract?utm

  • Gastric bypass vs sleeve gastrectomy: long-term remission of type 2 diabetes (Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology). https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587%2824%2900396-6/abstract?utm

  • Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for diabetes (Diabetes Surgery Study; randomized). PubMed

  • NIH/Cleveland Clinic multicenter study: bariatric surgery provides better long-term glucose control than medical/lifestyle care.  https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/bariatric-surgery-provides-long-term-blood-glucose-control-type-2-diabetes-remission?utm

  • ADA Standards of Care in Diabetes—2025 (guideline pages referencing metabolic/bariatric surgery and remission). https://diabetes.org/newsroom/press-releases/american-diabetes-association-releases-standards-care-diabetes-2025?utm

  • ASMBS 2025 Diabetes Fact Sheet (concise clinical summary; PDF). https://asmbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Diabetes2025FactSheet.pdf?utm

Sources specifically on “stomach removal” (total gastrectomy) and diabetes remission (note: total gastrectomy is not a standard diabetes treatment; remission findings come mostly from patients who had cancer surgery, and evidence is observational):

Helpful overviews on remission after metabolic (bariatric) surgery:

  • Narrative/clinical reviews of diabetes remission after bariatric surgery. https://www.wafp.org/assets/files/2025_ADA_Updates_All_Sections_95.pdf?utm




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@1TheBrutalTruth1 Oct 2025 Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976: Allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research.

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