WHEELING — Brandon Louden truly considers himself one of the lucky ones taking part in this week’s OVAC Rudy Mumley All-Star Football Game.

And that has nothing to do with the fact that the Beallsville graduate is even on the team.

Louden — a wide receiver and defensive back for the Buckeye State — has battled Type 1 Diabetes since fourth grade.

“When I first got diagnosed, my doctor told me I wouldn’t be able to play certain sports,” Louden said. “And sports are what I loved to do as a kid, so I just kept (playing) until I got used to it.”

Clearly, Louden became accustomed to handling diabetes. He was a four-year mainstay in football, basketball and track for the Blue Devils.

The appearance in Saturday’s OVAC All-Star Game is actually his second such contest this school year. He played in the Samuel A. Mumley All-Star Basketball Game in April.

On the track, Louden didn’t run far. But, he ran fast. He was consistently around 11-flat in the 100 and advanced to the Division III regional for the second straight season.

“As I got older, I became better at taking care of myself, so I didn’t have as many issues, but it’s not something that goes away, so it’s always in the back of your mind,” Louden said.

There have been times when Louden is competing when his sugar either drops or spikes.

It doesn’t take him long to recognize exactly what’s going on either.

“If my sugar is high, I have to take insulin and if my sugar is low, I have to eat something with sugar in it,” Louden said. “I feel it when my sugar is high or low. If it’s high, I feel like I am going to be sick (to my stomach) and if it’s low, I feel weak.”

Louden is well aware that he’s not the only person to have diabetes. The best advice he could offer to other young people dealing with the diagnosis is to “live life.”

“There is nothing you can do to prevent it, so you have to do what you can do to make sure you’re able to do the things you want to do,” Louden said.

Louden has been soaking up all of the all-star activities and his final chance to represent the Blue Devils. He’s the first Beallsville product to be chosen for the OVAC football game in several seasons.

“It feels good to be a part of this,” Louden said. “Coming from Beallsville, a really small school, and being with all these guys is a lot different, but I am having a lot of fun.”