The comparisons are obvious, but the review is about risks rather than about causation and treatments. The Table includes a calculation of NNT as an indicator of the absolute increased risk, which was an additional 1 in 5 risk of dying or having heart failure or shock for non-diabetics, and a 1 in 8 risk of dying for diabetics. These are big risks. The cardioprotective effects of insulin and beta-blockers are also discussed. There's no simple answer, though.
Blood glucose is clearly an important marker for morbidity and mortality.
This is one occasion where the call for research to find out whether reversing the stress hyperglycaemia improves outcomes rings true. This looks increasingly important. SE Capes et al.