A Derby Day Party on Ozempic

On the first Saturday in May, people across the country throw parties for a horse race that lasts about two minutes. Derby Day parties mean big hats and seersucker, mint juleps and bourbon, betting pools, and a spread of hot browns, burgoo, pimento cheese, ham biscuits, and chocolate pecan pie. The party often starts at noon and runs well into the evening.

If you take Ozempic or another GLP-1, an afternoon of sweet bourbon cocktails and rich Southern food on a smaller appetite takes some planning. Here is how to enjoy the day.

Alcohol on Ozempic

Many people on Ozempic find they want less alcohol than they used to. A small randomized trial in adults with alcohol use disorder, published in 2025, found that low-dose semaglutide reduced how much people drank in a laboratory drinking session and the number of drinks on days they drank, compared with placebo. That study was in a specific population, and the medication is not a treatment for drinking. But it fits what many people notice: one drink can be enough.

Some people also find alcohol affects them differently on these medications. Have drinks with food rather than on an empty stomach, and alternate each one with water.

Mint juleps

A mint julep is mostly bourbon with sugar syrup, served over crushed ice, and it goes down easily on a warm afternoon. Make one julep last, ask for a lighter pour, or switch to a mocktail version with mint, soda, and a splash of syrup. If you have type 2 diabetes, the sugar counts too.

Low blood sugar and drinking

The prescribing information for Wegovy, which contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient as Ozempic, notes that patients with diabetes mellitus taking it in combination with insulin or an insulin secretagogue, such as a sulfonylurea, may have an increased risk of hypoglycemia, including severe hypoglycemia. Alcohol can lower blood sugar further, sometimes hours later. If that is you, eat with every drink, keep glucose tablets in your bag, and never change those medications on your own.

The spread

Ham biscuits, a small cup of burgoo, and deviled eggs bring some protein, so start there. Hot browns and pimento cheese are rich, so take a small portion or share. The pie is very sweet and dense, so a thin slice is enough. Eat slowly, and stop at the first sign of fullness. Our guide on what to eat after an injection has ideas for foods that tend to sit well.

Plan your dose around the party

Side effects tend to be strongest in the first weeks and after each dose increase, and many people notice them most in the day or two after an injection. If a step up would fall right before the party, ask your provider whether to hold it. Ask your provider before moving your injection day. Our guide on semaglutide dose escalation covers how dose steps usually work, and if you are new to treatment, our guide on the Ozempic starting dose covers what the first weeks usually look like.

Never skip a dose to drink more

It can be tempting to skip an injection so you can enjoy more bourbon and food. Do not. Skipping and restarting is more involved than it sounds, and your provider should guide any change. Our guide on taking a break and restarting covers why.

Sun, hats, and water

Outdoor Derby parties in May can be hot. Drink water steadily, find shade, and remember that alcohol in the sun can dehydrate you faster. Stand up slowly from a lawn chair.

If you feel queasy

If nausea hits, put down the drink, sip water, and sit somewhere cool. If you switched from a tirzepatide medication or are comparing options, our guide comparing tirzepatide and semaglutide side effects covers how they differ.

When people notice

If friends notice you are drinking or eating less, you do not owe anyone an explanation. “I’m pacing myself, it’s a long afternoon” is enough. Holding a mocktail in a julep cup keeps the questions down.

Watch for under-eating

A party spread can still leave you short on real food if you mostly drink and nibble. Watch for persistent fatigue, feeling cold, hair shedding, dizziness when you stand, losing strength, and losing weight faster than you and your provider intended.

Consider this scenario: a woman on Ozempic who also takes a sulfonylurea arrives at a noon Derby party without eating and has three mint juleps before the race, with a few bites of pie. By early evening she is nauseated and dizzy, and that night she wakes up sweaty and shaky. Eating a ham biscuit and burgoo first, making one julep last or switching to a mocktail, alternating with water, and keeping glucose tablets in her bag would very likely have made it a better Derby Day.

If you are hosting

Hosting puts you in charge of the pace. Build the menu around protein, with ham biscuits, deviled eggs, grilled chicken, and a pot of burgoo, and keep the rich dishes as sides. Set up a mocktail station with mint, citrus, and soda next to the bourbon, and put out a big dispenser of ice water. Eat a plate yourself before guests arrive, so hosting duties do not leave you running on juleps alone.

The short version

At a Derby Day party on Ozempic, eat before you drink, make one mint julep last or switch to a mocktail, and alternate every drink with water. Start the spread with ham biscuits, burgoo, and deviled eggs, keep hot browns and pie small, and find shade. Carry glucose tablets if you take insulin or a sulfonylurea, ask about holding a dose increase, and never skip a dose to drink more.

If you want a provider who will help you plan treatment around the parties and traditions you enjoy, TrimRx includes ongoing provider access alongside treatment.

This information is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Consult with a healthcare provider before starting any medication. Individual results may vary.