Patient-reported priorities for stem cell-derived islet transplantation diverge significantly from traditional clinical endpoints, with freedom from daily insulin management ranking higher than achieving perfect glycemic control. Participants valued psychological relief, spontaneous eating patterns, and reduced diabetes-related anxiety more than hemoglobin A1c improvements. This patient-centered perspective challenges how researchers evaluate experimental diabetes therapies and suggests current trial designs may miss the outcomes that matter most to those living with the condition. The findings highlight a critical gap between medical success metrics and lived experience priorities. For the emerging field of stem cell islet therapy, this represents a paradigm shift toward patient-defined efficacy. Traditional diabetes research has focused heavily on glucose control and complication prevention, but these insights suggest that liberation from constant disease management may be equally important. The research underscores the importance of incorporating patient voices early in therapy development, particularly for treatments targeting quality of life alongside clinical outcomes. As stem cell islet therapy advances toward clinical trials, these patient priorities should fundamentally reshape how success is measured and reported.