Ex-CIA Agent John Kiriakou's Experimental Diabetes Cure: Stomach Removal

John Kiriakou's Diabetes Journey

• 📌 For 21 years, John Kiriakou lived with diabetes, which worsened significantly in 2021 despite his efforts to exercise and eat right.
• ⚠️ He was told by doctors that his diabetes was so severe, a radical intervention was necessary, with one doctor predicting he had only 5 years left to live.

The Experimental Surgical Solution

• 💡 Inspired by research in The Lancet, Kiriakou learned about an experimental procedure involving the complete removal of the stomach.
• 🔬 This surgery, performed robotically, was found to often restore pancreatic function and eliminate the need for insulin.
• 🚀 Kiriakou underwent the procedure, which involved making small incisions and creating a pouch from his small intestine to act as a new stomach.

Life After Surgery

• ✅ Within 24 hours of the surgery, Kiriakou was off insulin, and within nine months, he was completely off all diabetes medications.
• 📉 He experienced a significant weight loss of 115 pounds and no longer feels hunger, eating only small portions.
• ✨ Kiriakou describes feeling like a million bucks and being the same weight he was at age 30, crediting the treatment with saving his life.

Barriers to Treatment

• 🚫 The experimental nature of the surgery means insurance companies will not cover it, forcing patients to pay out of pocket.
• 💰 Kiriakou believes pharmaceutical interests are a major reason this treatment remains little known, as it directly competes with the lucrative market for diabetes medications like insulin, Mounjaro, and Trulicity.
• 🗣️ He questions why this potentially life-saving treatment is not more widely discussed or known.